Gophers Shut Down Presidents After Opening Period

TOWSON, Md. — Goucher unleashed a season-high total of 62 shots and held visiting Washington & Jefferson scoreless over the final 47:24 on the way to an 18-2 victory this afternoon in a Landmark Conference game played on Beldon Field.

John Bursch's extra-man goal with 2:24 remaining in the first quarter not only ended a run of four consecutive goals by Goucher, it also lowered the home team's lead to 5-2. Neither team would score again that period and only the Gophers (3-5, 1-1 Landmark) would score again the rest of the game.

The extra-man goal Gavin Wilson (Charlestown, Pa./Great Valley) tallied 24 seconds into the second quarter was the first of seven the Gophers would score in the period, giving them a 12-2 lead after 30 minutes.

Unassisted goals by Sam Woodruff (Glen Ridge, N.J./Kent School) and Max Roach (Austin, Texas/Austin) accounted for all of the scoring in the third quarter and among the four goals Goucher tacked on in the final period was the team-leading 15th of the season for Dylan Zook (Purcellville, Va./Loudoun Valley).

Zook, Roach and Sam Morgan (Wilmot, N.H./Kearsarge Regional) contributed three goals apiece to the victory, which boosted Goucher's all-time record in Landmark Conference games to 33-4.

Morgan was also awarded four assists.

After scoring twice on four shots in the opening 15 minutes, the Presidents (4-6, 0-2 Landmark) came up empty on an additional 11 attempts over the final three periods. Karl Wiszumerski (Pottstown, Pa./The Hill School) started in goal for Goucher and made two saves. Peter Hayes (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) tended goal the entire second half for the Gophers and stopped five shots.

Tristan Morris (Houston, Texas/Houston Christian) handled 15 faceoffs for Goucher, winning 12 of them. Ryan Briggs (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) took five faceoffs and gained possession for the Gophers every time.

The Gophers don't have another home game until April 17. One week from today, they travel to Madison, N.J. for a Landmark Conference contest against Drew. The opening faceoff is set for noon.