Gophers Never Surrender Lead Over Yellow Jackets

Gophers Never Surrender Lead Over Yellow Jackets

Averett, Boncaro Tally Three Goals Apiece in 11-6 Triumph

March 18, 2009

ASHLAND, Va. – The 3-0 lead that Goucher enjoyed over Ranolph-Macon after one period today appeared to be in jeopardy when the Gophers were socked with a three-minute illegal stick penalty to begin the second quarter – and things got even dicier when a cross-checking infraction put them two men down.

The Yellow Jackets took advantage of the opportunity they were presented by scoring a pair of extra-man goals, one of which was negated by a man-down goal by Brian Hoge (Crofton, Md./Arundel), leaving head coach Kyle Hannan's squad ahead 4-2 by the time the sides were even. Randolph-Macon closed to within 4-3 on an unassisted goal by Patrick Egan with 10:36 remaining in the second quarter.

But that would be as close as the game would get. After that, the Gophers (5-2) stuck three more goals in the second quarter to expand their lead to 7-3 and went on to defeat Randolph-Macon, 11-6, handing the Yellow Jackets' their first loss of the season.

Even after an extra-man goal by Rory Averett (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North) in the opening minute of the third period expanded Goucher's advantage to 8-3, the Yellow Jackets (3-1) had one more run left in them. They trailed 8-5 through three periods and inched even closer on Egan's unassisted goal :43 into the fourth quarter before Averett restored the Gophers' lead to four goals with back-to-back goals, the first with 8:15 remaining and the second 2:13 later.

With his three-goal performance today, Averett raised his season total to 17 goals, second-highest on the team. The freshman attackman has tallied at least two goals in all seven games so far in 2009.

Kyle Boncaro (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) also contributed three goals to the victory, plus he had three assists. The freshman attackman now has 18 goals and 15 assists for a team-leading total of 33 points.

The Gophers, who now possess a 5-4 edge in the all-time series between the two teams, finished with a 32-24 advantage in shots.