Gophers Extend Full-Game Effort, Turn Back Eagles
TOWSON, Md. — Goucher was tied or had the lead at the end of the first half in three of the four games it lost prior to today’s clash with Mary Washington. So the Gophers knew it would be premature to celebrate a 5-2 advantage over the Eagles after 30 minutes.
Shelton Helps Goucher Avoid Meltdown by Going 14-for-18 in Faceoffs
TOWSON, Md. — Goucher was tied or had the lead at the end of the first half in three of the four games it lost prior to today's clash with Mary Washington. So the Gophers knew it would be premature to celebrate a 5-2 advantage over the Eagles after 30 minutes.
The difference today was the Gophers performed significantly better in the second half in two key areas than they did in any of their earlier setbacks: They won 11 of the 12 faceoffs that took place and scored on three of the five extra-man opportunities they were presented over the final two periods.
Goucher's lead never dipped below three at any point in the second half as the Gophers rolled to an 11-6 victory over the Eagles.
An unassisted goal by Matt Lynch (Ivyland, Pa./LaSalle College) with :06 showing on the clock provided the Gophers (2-4) with a 3-1 lead after one period. Goucher added an extra-man goal by Kyle Boncaro (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) and an even-strength goal by Rory Averett (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North) in the second quarter.
Max Roach (Austin, Texas/Austin) accounted for both of Goucher's goals in the third quarter. He put the Gophers up 6-2 when he tallied a man-up goal 2:55 into the period and then 7-2 with an unassisted goal nearly seven minutes later. The Eagles (4-4) scored twice in the final 3:40 to begin the fourth quarter down just 7-4.
Once again, however, the Gophers notched the all-important first goal of the period less than two minutes in when Jackson Lane (Aurora, Colo./Smoky Hill) set up Averett, making the score 8-4 in Goucher's favor.
In beating Mary Washington for just the eighth time in 21 all-time meetings, the Gophers outshot the Eagles, 31-20.
D.J. Shelton (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto), who won only nine of the 21 faceoffs he attempted for the Gophers through the first five games of the season, was 14-for-18 in today's game. Paul Taylor (San Antonio, Texas/St. Mary's Hall) picked up a game-high six ground balls and Bryce Carson (Shillington, Pa./Lancaster Country Day School), Stephen Patterson (Minneapolis, Minn./Blake School) and Lynch all caused three turnovers in the win.