Gophers Edged 8-7 at Methodist in Opener

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - Senior Ben Smith (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) gogaled three goals and an assist while classmate Jared Heath (Windham, N.H./New Hampton) registered two goals and four assists, but the Goucher College men's lacrosse team was edged 8-7 in its season opener at Methodist University Saturday afternoon.

• Methodist (1-0) jumped out to a 3-0 lead 7:36 into the game.
• Goucher (0-1) got on the board with 6:47 left in the quarter as Smith scored on an assist from Heath.
• Following a cross-checking penalty on the Monarchs, Smith scored again on a Heath pass 35 seconds later.
• With just under three minutes to go in the quarter, Heath scored, with Smith assisting, to tie the game 3-3.

• The Monarchs took advantage of their first man-up opportunity of the game, scoring 14 seconds into the quarter to reclaim the lead.
• Goucher, which outshot Methodist 8-3 in the quarter, tied the game back up with 1:16 to go before halftime as Jared Halverson (Durham, N.C./Charles E. Jordan) scored, with Sam Sauter (Silver Spring, Md./Northwood) assisting.

• Smith's third goal of the game 1:14 into the second half gave the Gophers their first lead of the game, 8-7.
• Methodist tied the game 5-5 with a goal at the 11:06 mark.
• Sauter scored his first collegiate goal in a man-up situation with 8:40 left in the third on an assist from Heath to put Goucher back in front.
• The Monarchs scored twice in a 40-second span to take a 7-6 lead with 5:59 to go.

• Just over a minute into the fourth quarter a Tyler Bennett goal extended Methodist's lead to 8-6.
• The Gophers cashed in another man-up opportunity with 2:53 left as Heath scored to make it 8-7.
• Goucher won the ensuing faceoff following a Methodist violation and Halverson got off two shots, one that was saved by MU goalie Cameron Brink with 1:18 to go.

• Goucher outshot Methodist 35-26, including 11-5 in the fourth quarter.
• The Gophers finished 3-7 in man up, while the Monarchs converted their only extra man opportunity.
• Goucher goalie Justin Lugo (Davie, Fla./Saint Andrews School) made 12 saves on 20 shots faced, while Brink made 11 stops.
• Sauter finished with a pair of caused turnovers in addition to his goal and assist in his collegiate debut.
• Sauter, Milan Temple (Joppatowne, Md./Concordia Prep), Jack McDermott (Wilmington, Del./The White Mountain School) and Kyle Ramos (Silver Spring, Md./Bethesda-Chevy Chase) each finished with a team-high three ground balls.

MLAX | @GoucherLacrosse took a 5-4 lead early in the second half on Ben Smith's third goal of the game!#d3lax #GopherGreatness pic.twitter.com/1r7w3hYrbl

— Goucher Gophers (@GoucherSports) February 19, 2022

• Goucher is back in action Wednesday, February 23, when it heads to No. 16 Gettysburg for a 3:30 pm matchup.
• The Gophers' home opener is set for Wednesday, March 2, when they host McDaniel at 7 pm at Beldon Field.