Harnish's Offensive Display And Good Defense Leads Goucher Men's Lacrosse Past Delaware Valley, 13-8

BALTIMORE, Md. – Zephan Harnish (Woodsboro, Md./Walkersville) posted a career-high seven goals to power Goucher College past Delaware Valley University 13-8 in non-conference men's lacrosse action on Saturday.

The senior had two goals in the first quarter and then after being called for a penalty returned to the game in the second period to post a natural hat trick in a span of four minutes and 24 to hand the Gophers a 6-4 lead. He then scored two goals to end the third quarter to eclipse his previous career high of five tallies and assisted the first marker of the fourth quarter. Harnish notched his second career game with at least five goals and his 12th multigoal performance of his career. He now leads the team in goals (12) and ranks second in points (13) on the season. 

Matt Woodson (Timonium, Md./McDonough) added one goal and four assists. It is the fifth time in his career he has handed out four of more helpers in a game. Woodson, who paced the team last season with 27 assists, leads the team in assists (9) and points (16) in 2019.

Andrew Sade (Lewisberry, Pa./Northern York) and Grant Lasorda (Collegeville, Pa./Germantown Academy) each had two goals. Sade posted his third multigoal game of the season. On the heels of his career-high four goals in the win against Lebanon Valley, Lasorda notched his eighth-multigoal game of his career. Mason Gorman (Boise, Idaho/Eagle) made his 2019 debut with a goal and an assist

Mick Togo (Wilmington, Del./Tower Hill)  fueled the defense with a career-high five caused turnovers and 10 ground balls while Nick DeOto (Germantown, Md./Seneca Valley) added four caused turnovers and five ground balls. Justin Lugo (Davie, Fla./Saint Andrew's School)made 15 saves in the squad's second-straight victory.

After having its game on Wednesday cancelled due to cold weather, Goucher had not played since its 10-9 win against Lebanon Valley on Mar. 2. In the first quarter it looked like the team was shaking off its rust, but went into the second quarter tied at 2. Harnish tied the game at 1 off a Woodson feeder at 6:56 and then tied the game at 2 unassisted with eight seconds left in the quarter.

The Aggies scored the first two goals of the second quarter before the Gophers took over the rest of the half. 

Sade scored a man-up goal off a pass from Woodson before Harnish took over. The senior came around the back of the cage from left to right and made two defenders run into each other to score his third goal of the day at 4:23. While he did not make two defenders collide in his next score, he did duke out a defender who fell to the ground 30 seconds later to hand Goucher its first lead of the day, 5-4. Gorman then helped Harnish complete the natural hat trick with 29 seconds left to give the Gophers a 6-4 edge at the break.

Just like the second quarter, Delaware Valley took a two-goal advantage by scoring the first two goals of the third only to see Goucher answer with four straight to take a 10-6 lead.

Sade started the run unassisted at 8:35 before Gorman found the twine unassisted at 8:06. Harnish scored his second-straight tally off a Woodson feeder at 1:32 and then Jimmy Russo (Frederick, Md./Saint John's Catholic Prep) hooked up with Harnish with 28 seconds left.

Lasorda twinkled the twine twice to start the fourth quarter off passes from Harnish at 12:32 and Woodson at 11:12 for a 12-6 lead. After dishing out four assists, Woodson found the twine off a Russo feeder with 46 seconds left to help seal a 13-8 victory.

The Gophers scored a goal in each quarter in the final 46 seconds of a stanza.

It will be a quick turnaround for Goucher with the team returning to action on Monday at home against Gordon College. Game time is 4 p.m.