Goucher Men's Lacrosse Battles Nationally-Ranked Gettysburg Tough In First Half In Season Opener

BALTIMORE, Md. – Goucher College went toe-to-toe with nationally-ranked Gettysburg College for the first 30 minutes of the game in a season-opening loss to the Bullets in non-conference men's lacrosse action on Wednesday.

Justin Lugo (Davie, Fla./Saint Andrews School), who made his collegiate debut against Gettysburg last season on the road, recorded 15 saves including five stops in the first half to help the Gophers go into halftime trailing by two goals. It was the fifth time in his career that he has had at least 15 saves and the eighth time he has posted double-digit saves.

Matt Woodson (Timonium, Md./McDonogh), Jared Heath (Windham, N.H./New Hampton) and Jared Halverson (Durham, N.C./CE Jordan) each found the twine in the second quarter  to go into the break down 5-3.

Woodson registered a point for the third-straight season opener after registering a goal and an assist last season against the Bullets and dishing out three assists against Hood as a sophomore. Woodson, who missed the last six matches last season due to injury, still was the team's leading returning scoring from last season after he posted 13 goals and 20 assists for 33 points.

Heath, who had an assist in his collegiate debut last season in Gettysburg, posted a goal in his 10th career contest. The sophomore had 19 tallies and 10 assists for 29 points in 2019. Halverson also had an assist in his collegiate debut last season and posted three markers and six assists for five points as a freshman

Gettysburg scored the first three goals of the game after taking a 1-0 lead after the first quarter and scoring two tallies in the first six minutes of the second quarter. 

The Gophers then scored the next two goals to cut the margin to 3-2 with 72 seconds left in the quarter. Steven Mancha (Salisbury, Md./Parkside) helped Goucher win the face off by picking up the ground ball and then passed the ball ahead to Andrew Sade (Lewisberry, Pa./Northern York), who found a streaking Woodson for the Gophers first tally of the game at 8:20. Heath then came around the cage and buried a shot at 3:11 to make it a one-goal game.

After the Bullets momentarily halted the host run, Rashaan Evans (Salisbury, Md./Parkside) connected with Halverson with five seconds left to end the first half scoring.

Mancha paced the defense with four ground balls and two caused turnovers. Kyle Ramos (Silver Spring, Md./Bethesda Chevy Chase) added three ground balls.

Gettysburg then scored five markers in the third quarter and four goals in the fourth quarter to earn the 14-3 win. What a difference a year makes, the Bullets held a 12-4 lead last season en route to a 24-6 victory.

Goucher returns to action on Saturday when Randolph-Macon College comes to town. Game time is 1 p.m.