Fratella Sticks Game-Winning Goal with 3:34 Remaining

Gophers Come Out on Top in Inaugural Meeting with Fighting Scots

TOWSON, Md. — Goucher had allowed a five-goal lead to completely vanish and momentum had clearly swung over to Gordon's side this afternoon when senior midfielder Jacob Fratella (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) stuck an unassisted goal with 3:34 left to play to put the Gophers up 9-8.

Over the next 2:25, the Fighting Scots got off two shots in an attempt to pull into a 9-9 deadlock, but both times those shots were turned away by senior goalkeeper Chris Stricklin (Germantown, Md./Seneca Valley). Finally, with :38 showing on the clock, sophomore attackman Kyle Boncaro (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) deposited a shot into an empty net, sealing Goucher's 10-8 non-conference victory.

The two teams, which had never met before in the sport of men's lacrosse, were knotted up a 3-3 after one period, but the Gophers (2-2) tallied the first five goals of the second quarter to grab an 8-3 advantage. Sophomore midfielder Matt Lynch (Ivyland, Pa./LaSalle College) scored twice and set up a goal by sophomore attackman Rory Averett (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North) during the five-goal run.

Before halftime, the Fighting Scots (1-2) closed to within 8-5 thanks to a pair of goals by Zac Blue. The only goal of the third quarter belonged to Gordon's Joel Derechinsky, further reducing Goucher's lead to 8-6.

Just one goal separated the two teams following Gordon's first possession of the fourth quarter, which concluded with Blue notching his third goal of the contest. Derechinsky's unassisted goal with 8:04 remaining created the 8-8 tie.

Fratella's tie-breaking goal ended a scoreless drought for the Gophers which lasted 34:40.

Lynch contributed three goals and an assist to the victory. Averett and Fratella added two goals apiece.

Stricklin went all the way in goal for the Gophers and the six saves he made in the fourth quarter boosted his total for the game to 12.