Gophers Battle Back Only to Lose in OT

Gophers Battle Back Only to Lose in OT

March 12, 2008

TOWSON, Md. - There was no way around it, either Goucher or Wooster was going to be knocked from the ranks of the undefeated today. It just didn't have to be in such a cruel and sudden manner.

The Gophers appeared headed for their first loss of the season when they trailed 3-1 after one period and 5-2 at the end of the first half. Thanks to an extra-man goal by Dave Duff (Westwood, MA/Suffield Academy) and an even-strength goal by Cooper Mazon (Littleton, CO/Mullen) in the third quarter, they were down only 5-4 heading into the final 15:00.

Twice in the fourth quarter, the Gophers overcame a one-goal deficit - first tying the score at 5-5 on an unassisted goal by Brian Hoge (Crofton, MD/Arundel) with 12:39 left to play and then pulling even at 6-6 on Duff's second goal of the contest and eighth of the season with only 1:35 remaining in regulation. 

When neither team was able to score in the final 1:35 of regulation, the game went into sudden-death overtime. Although Jamie Houghton (Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) of the Gophers won the face-off to start the extra session, the Fighting Scots were able to force a quick turnover that led to a fast-break goal that provided them with a 7-6 victory.

Matt Pullara, who took the face-off for Wooster (4-0), scooped up the ground ball following the turnover and started the fast break that resulted in a game-winning goal by Conor Hannan just :11 into OT.

Austin Main (Berlin, MD/Stephen Decatur) was in goal for Goucher for all but :39 and finished with 12 saves.

The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for head coach Kyle Hannan's Gophers (3-1) that dated back to the final three games of last season.