Gophers Suffer Narrow 6-4 Loss to No. 12 Bullets
TOWSON, Md. — Goucher kept nationally ranked Gettysburg completely off the scoreboard in the first and fourth quarters today. The Bullets managed to score enough goals in the middle two periods, however, to come away with a 6-4 victory over the Gophers on Beldon Field.
Averett Opens Scoring, Sticks Two More Goals in Fourth Quarter
TOWSON, Md. — Goucher kept nationally ranked Gettysburg completely off the scoreboard in the first and fourth quarters today. The Bullets managed to score enough goals in the middle two periods, however, to come away with a 6-4 victory over the Gophers on Beldon Field.
The Gophers (0-2) got off eight shots in the first quarter which yielded two goals, an even-strength goal by junior attackman Rory Averett (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North) that opened the scoring 1:51 into the contest and an extra-man goal by junior attackman Kyle Boncaro (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) midway through the period that put Goucher up 2-0.
The Bullets (2-1), who dropped to No. 12 in the USILA's Division III national rankings after getting knocked off by Hampden-Sydney on Saturday, responded with two goals of their own in the second quarter, one by J.C. Ward and the other by Bobby DeWees.
Gettysburg went ahead for the first time 4:43 into the third quarter on a goal by Dylan Schmitz and was able to tack on three more goals before the period ended. Pat Santory's unassisted goal provided the Bullets with a 4-2 lead and Santory picked up assists on goals by Martin Manilla and Schmitz that made the score 6-2 heading into the final 15 minutes.
Averett stuck two goals in the fourth quarter, the second of which reduced Gettysburg's lead to 6-4 with 3:39 left to play. The Gophers got off two more shots down the stretch, but both were turned away by goalkeeper J.T. McCook, who turned in a six-save performance for the Bullets.
Sophomore goalkeeper Connor Mishaw (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) went the distance in goal for the Gophers and was credited with seven saves.
For the second time in as many games this season and fourth time in his career, senior defenseman Justin Dunn (Denver, Colo./Mullen) had seven caused turnovers for the Gophers. Sophomore defenseman Paul Taylor (San Antonio, Texas/St. Mary's Hall) nearly matched his teammate's total as he forced the Bullets to lose possession of the ball six times.