Gophers Take Wind Out of Soaring Eagles

Gophers Take Wind Out of Soaring Eagles

Team's 35th Victory in 51 Games in Gopher Stadium

March 1, 2009

TOWSON, Md. – Goucher kicked off an early-season four-game homestand on a successful note this afternoon, turning back Elmira, 15-11.

Four different players scored goals for Goucher in the first quarter, which ended with the home team leading 4-2. The Soaring Eagles (0-1) came back to tie the score at 4-4 on a man-down goal by Brad Levick with 9:08 remaining before halftime, but the Gophers (2-0) went ahead to stay on an unassisted goal by Matt Lynch (Ivyland, Pa./LaSalle College) midway through the second period.

Goucher led 7-5 at halftime.

With Rory Averett (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North) contributing three of the goals and also setting up an extra-man goal by Jake Fratella (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine), the Gophers outscored Elmira, 6-1, in the third quarter and headed into the fourth period with what appeared to be a safe 13-6 advantage.

The Soaring Eagles struck for two quick goals at the start of the final quarter to close to within 13-8, but Kyle Boncaro (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) responded by scoring his second and third goals of the game to restore Goucher's lead to seven goals, enough for the Gophers to withstand a three-goal run by Elmira down the stretch.

The Gophers finished with a 48-32 edge in shots, but junior goalkeeper Geoffrey Lane kept the Soaring Eagles in the game by making 19 saves.

By winning the first of the eight home games on their 2009 schedule, the Gophers saw their all-time record in Gopher Stadium, which has been the home of Goucher lacrosse for the past seven seasons, improve to 35-16 (.686).