Mendoza's OT Goal Lifts Field Hockey to 3-2 Win at Moravian in Season Finale

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - A goal by junior Valerie Mendoza (San Diego, Calif.) seven minutes into overtime clinched a 3-2 win for the Goucher College field hockey team on Sunday at Moravian. The Landmark Conference match-up served as the teams 2018 season finale, as well.

With the win, the Gophers end the season with an 8-7 overall mark, 3-4 in the Landmark Conference. Moravian ends the year with a 4-13 overall mark, 1-6 in the Landmark with the defeat.

To kick the game off, Goucher was first to strike, as they cracked a scoreless tie in the 24th minute when junior Meghan Oakes (Boothbay, Maine) scored her second goal of the 2018 season, unassisted, to give the Gophers a 1-0 edge. That lead held over the next 11 minutes of play, as Goucher went into intermission up, 1-0, on Moravian.

Quickly to start the second half, Goucher scored again to double their lead. In the 42nd minute, senior Jackie Juarez (Glendora, Calif.) scored the final goal of her career off an Oakes assist to make it a 2-0 game. For Juarez, the goal was her 10th of the 2018 season and the 24th of her career at Goucher.

Down by two goals, Moravian roared back, scoring goals in the 54th and 57th minutes to tie the game up at 2-2. That tie held over the final moments of regulation, sending the game to overtime.

In OT, Goucher dominated play, taking four shots (compared to zero for Moravian). On the Gophers' fourth shot, Mendoza ended it with an unassisted goal, lifting Goucher to their eighth win of the year in thrilling fashion.

The goal was also the fourth of the year for Mendoza, the second of which was a game-winner for Goucher, as well.

Overall in the win, Goucher outshot Moravian by a wide 27-14 margin and held a 16-8 edge on penalty corners. In net, first-year Devin Brashear (Escondido, Calif.) ended her impressive first-year season with six saves in over 70 minutes of play.

--GOPHERS--