Gophers Use Up Five Seconds Scoring First Goal

TOWSON, Md. — A faceoff win by Tristan Morris (Houston, Texas/Houston Christian), a pass ahead to Max Roach (Austin, Texas/Austin), who finds Dylan Zook (Purcellville, Va./Loudoun Valley), who finishes by beating the opposing goalkeeper.

If that sounds like the first goal Goucher scored four days ago in a 13-8 triumph over King's, it's because it was. But the Gophers also tallied their first goal against Messiah tonight in nearly identical fashion

Against the Monarchs, it was at the start of the second quarter with Goucher trailing 1-0 and the entire play leading to the goal by Zook that created a 1-1 tie took six seconds.

Tonight, however, it was right at the beginning of the contest and this time the Gophers needed even less time to pull it off. Just five seconds after the opening whistle, they had their first goal and were on their way to a 13-8 victory over the Falcons.

The Gophers (2-4) led 3-0 at the end of the first quarter and 6-0 following another Zook-from-Roach goal 6:11 into the second period.

Messiah was presented with an excellent opportunity to attempt to get back in the game when Goucher was assessed a non-releaseable, three-minute penalty for illegal equipment, but the Falcons (0-4) were only able to score one time on the lengthy extra-man opportunity. Even worse, they allowed a man-down goal to Pierce Ingram (Austin, Texas/Westwood) before the penalty expired.

Zook notched his third goal, and Steve Patterson (Minneapolis, Minn./Blake School) and Ingram both scored for the second time during the third quarter, which ended with the Gophers leading, 11-4.

Goucher was hit with another penaley for illegal equipment at the outset of the fourth quarter, and this time Messiah took advantage of the situation by scoring twice while the Gophers were a man down. There was still 11:27 remaining after Chris Bry's unassisted goal reduced the Falcons' deficit to 11-7, but even-strength goals by Sam Woodruff (Glen Ridge, N.J./Kent School) at 9:07 and Patterson at 7:22 bumped the cushion back up to six goals.

The Gophers held the upper hand in shots (47-33) and ground  balls (36-21), plus they won 17 of the 22 faceoffs that took place.

Karl Wiszumerski (Pottstown, Pa./The Hill School) was the goalie of record for Goucher in his sixth of the year. He made a total of nine saves and allowed only eight goals.

Zook, Roach and Patterson all contributed three goals to the victory. Roach also had three assists.

This was Goucher's final non-conference tune-up prior to the first Landmark Conference game of the season. The Gophers, who have prevailed in their last 13 conference contests dating back to the 2011 campaign, will take on the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at noon on Sunday in Kings Point, N.Y.