Gophers Pin Convincing 18-4 Setback on Quakers

Gophers Pin Convincing 18-4 Setback on Quakers

Five First-Year Players Produce Combined Total of 10 Goals

February 21, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Goucher's veteran defense performed close to expectations, but first-year players also made their share of contributions as the Gophers launched their 2009 season successfully this afternoon, downing Guilford, 18-4.

With most of the key components of a defensive unit that ranked third in Division III at 5.75 goals allowed per game last year back, it wasn't a big surprise that the Gophers kept Guilford (0-1) off the scoreboard until David Heltzel's unassisted goal with 3:28 remaining in the third quarter. Austin Main (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) started in goal and made saves on all six shots the Quakers got off during the opening 37:46.

What head coach Kyle Hannan couldn't count on this early in the season was how much offensive production he would get out of his freshman class.

He had to be pleased, considering freshmen accounted for 10 of the 18 goals and six of the nine assists the Gophers (1-0) put up during the game. In the first period alone, first-year players tallied three goals and dished out a pair of assists as the Gophers bolted out to a 6-0 lead after 15:00.

The game was only 1:17 old before senior midfielder Alex Boucher (North Wales, Pa./Germantown Academy) put Goucher ahead 1-0 with an unassisted even-strength goal. Two other seniors – midfielder Brian Hoge (Crofton, Md./Arundel) and attackman Sam Fitzpatrick (Littleton, Colo./Arapahoe) – combined to score seven goals in the non-conference victory.

The rest were all suppied by freshmen: attackmen Kyle Boncaro (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) and Rory Averett (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North) both scored three times in the first game of their collegiate careers, midfielder Matt Lynch (Ivyland, Pa./LaSalle College) had two goals and midfielders Jackson Lane (Aurora, Colo./Smoky Hill) and Pat Peddicord (Timonium, Md./Dulaney) one apiece.

Boncaro also picked up assists on three goals.

Nick LaBricciosa (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) won 17 of the 22 faceoffs he attempted for Goucher, which finished with a 59-22 advantage in shots.

Guilford's four goals were all unassisted and were scored by four different players.