Morgan Becomes Overtime Hero Again for Gophers

Goucher Earns No. 1 Seed in Landmark Playoffs

SCRANTON, Pa. -- An even-strength goal by Sam Morgan (Wilmot, N.H./Kearsarge Regional) 2:23 into overtime not only provided Goucher with a 7-6 victory over Scranton this afternoon, it also allowed the Gophers to clinch the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Landmark Conference postseason tournament.

The Gophers (7-7, 5-0 Landmark) wouldn't have even made it to OT had they not shut out the Royals after Taylor Nelson tallied an unassisted goal to put the home team up 6-4 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. Dylan Zook (Purcellville, Va./Loudoun Valley) set up both goals Goucher scored downed the stretch to wipe out the two-goal deficit, including the one by Steve Patterson (Minneapolis, Minn./Blake School) with exactly 1:00 remaining in regulation that created a 6-all tie.

Scranton won the faceoff to start the four-minute extra session and got one shot off before Goucher gained possession. The Gophers came up empty on their first two shots in OT as Zachary Fratella (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) was wide with his take and Morgan's attempt was stopped by goalkeeper Ben Worthington, who finished with 15 saves.

Following a timeout, Fratella threw a skip pass to Morgan, who unleashed a shot from 12 yards out that Worthington couldn't stop from going in even though he appeared to get a piece of it.

Morgan also tallied a game-winning OT goal on April 13, lifting Goucher past Catholic, 11-10.

An unassisted goal by Owen Demmerly (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) accounted for all of the scoring in the first quarter and Fratella's unassisted goal just over three minutes into the second period put the Gophers ahead, 2-0. The Royals (8-6, 4-1 Landmark) answered with unassisted goals by John Gregitis and Dillon McInerney to forge a 2-2 deadlock after 30 minutes.

The first two goals of the third quarter belonged to Scranton, but Goucher got one of them back when Max Roach (Austin, Texas/Austin) notched his 18th goal of the season. However, with just five seconds remaining in the period, the Royals regained a two-goal lead thanks to an even-strength goal by Will Mahle.

At the finish, Goucher enjoyed a 41-30 edge in shots and a 38-25 advantage in ground balls. Although the Royals earned the first possesion in OT, Tristan Morris (Houston, Texas/Houston Christian) of the Gophers won 10 of the 15 faceoffs that were conducted during regulation.

Connor Mishaw (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) was the starter in goal for Goucher. He made nine saves during regulation and then stopped the only shot he faced in overtime.