Gophers Handle Cardinals, Move Above .500 for First Time

Averett Spreads Four Goals Over Four Periods of Fourth Straight Win

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Rory Averett (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North) contributed one goal in each period and also picked up an assist on the opening goal of the contest as Goucher extended its winning streak to four games and moved above .500 for the first time this season by knocking off Otterbein, 12-7, tonight.

Averett set up the goal Kyle Boncaro (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) scored just :38 into the first quarter that provided the Gophers (5-4) with a quick 1-0 lead and then tallied the first of his four goals nearly three minutes later to put Goucher up 2-0. There were just :24 remaining in the period when John Curry (Yarmouth, Maine/Yarmouth) tacked on an unassisted goal that made the score 3-0 after 15 minutes.

The Cardinals (3-2) got on the scoreboard for the first time 3:56 into the second quarter on an unassisted goal by Andrew Donatelli, but starting with Averett's second goal of the contest, the Gophers erupted for five goals in a span of less than six minutes which allowed them to open up an 8-2 advantage by the end of the first half.

Even with a 12-6 edge in shots, Goucher managed only one goal in the third period and saw its lead dip to 9-5 heading into the final 15 minutes.

Matt Lynch (Ivyland, Pa./LaSalle College) opened the scoring in the fourth quarter, sticking an unassisted goal with 11:26 remaining that the Cardinals matched just :39 later. Averett collected his fourth goal of the game and team-leading 30th of the season midway through the period during the final seconds of a two-minute man-up situation for the Gophers to put Goucher ahead 11-6.

Donatelli notched his third goal of the game with 1:58 remaining, allowing Otterbein to close to within 11-7, but Goucher got that one back :44 later on an extra-man goal by Boncaro, who finished with three goals and a pair of assists.

Zach Fratella (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) had a hand in four goals for Goucher as he scored twice in the second quarter and set up Averett's first goal and one in the second period by Pierce Ingram (Austin, Texas/Westwood).

In beating the Cardinals in the inaugural meeting between the two schools in the sport of men's lacrosse, the Gophers enjoyed a 45-25 advantage in shots. Billy Lindhardt and Karl Wagner split time in goal for Otterbein and combined to make 11 saves; Connor Mishaw (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) turned away four shots in the opening period and three more the rest of the way as he went the distance in the net for Goucher.