Gophers Extend Winning Streak to Nine Games

Boncaro Finishes with Seven Points in Victory Over Captains

TOWSON, Md. — Goucher was clearly the superior team in the first quarter of today's game against Christopher Newport on Beldon Field.

It was evident at the faceoff X where D.J. Shelton (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) won all eight of the faceoffs that took place. It was made clear by the 14-0 advantage in shots the Gophers enjoyed. And it was demonstrated by the 14-6 edge in ground balls for head coach Kyle Hannan's club.

It also showed on the scoreboard, which, after 15 minutes, read: Goucher 7, Christopher Newport 0.

By the end of the contest, the score was 15-3 in Goucher's favor and the Gophers had a nine-game winning streak, matching the longest in the 21-year history of the school's men's lacrosse program.

Kyle Boncaro (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) already had four goals and an assist to his credit by the end of the first quarter. The senior attackman set up a goal by Rory Averett (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North) 5:59 into the contest that provided the Gophers (12-1) with a 1-0 lead and, following an unassisted goal by Pierce Ingram (Austin, Texas/Westwood), he tallied three goals in succession.

Goucher's lead grew to 6-0 on an unassisted goal by Zachary Fratella (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) with 2:08 remaining in the first quarter, and with :43 showing on the clock, Boncaro notched his fourth goal.

The Gophers added four goals to their total in the second quarter and three more in the third period before the Captains (3-8) got on the scoreboard for the first time on a goal by Gregory Limon 5:49 into the final stanza. An extra-man goal by Boncaro upped Goucher's lead to 15-1 before Teddy Pekalski and Matt Shaw both stuck goals for Christopher Newport in the final 3:30.

Boncaro finished with seven points on five goals and a pair of assists. Averett contributed four goals and two assists to the victory.

Including his eight wins during the first quarter, Shelton ended up going 13-for-17 on faceoffs, plus he was 11-2 when going head-to-head with Christopher Newport's Ari Elgort, who had the highest winning percentage (.732) in Division III through games played April 1.

Connor Mishaw (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) made his 30th consecutive start in goal for the Gophers and before being relieved after three periods, he made six saves without giving up a goal.

The only other nine-game winning streak in program history took place during the 2010 season. It started with an 11-7 victory over Susquehanna and continued through an 11-4 triumph over Catholic in the championship game of the Landmark Conference postseason tournament.