Vikings Break Open Tight Game in Fourth

TOWSON, Md. - Visiting Berry College broke open what had been a one-goal game entering the fourth quarter by outscoring Goucher College 5-1 en route to an 11-6 non-conference men's lacrosse victory Saturday afternoon at Beldon Field.

• Berry (3-1) got on the board 1:11 into the game on a goal by Tyler Banfield.
• Goucher (1-1) tied the game 3:35 later as Ben Smith (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) scored his sixth goal of the season.
• Smith struck again with just over seven minutes left in the period to put the Gophers in front 2-1.

• The Vikings scored twice in the first 1:38 of the third to take a 3-2 lead.
• Goucher tied the game 3-3 9:49 before halftime as Milan Temple (Joppatowne, Md./Concordia Prep) scored on a feed from Dylan White (Dagsboro, Del./Indian River).
• Berry scored the final two goals of the first half to take a 5-3 lead into intermission.

• A goal by Goucher's Jack McDermott (Wilmington, Del./The White Mountain School) 1:16 into the second half cut the Berry lead to 5-4.
• Davis Cooke scored for the Vikings with 12:20 on the clock.
• In the final seconds of the third on a restart Jacob Morgan (Bowie, Md./Bowie) curled around from behind the goal and went top shelf for his first collegiate goal to make it 6-5 entering the fourth.

• Berry reclaimed a two-goal advantage 1:41 into the fourth and extended the lead to 8-5 with just under 11 minutes left.
• McDermott scored his second goal of the game at the 9:18 mark to make it an 8-6 game.
• The Vikings reeled off three goals in a span of 3:04 starting at the 6:12 mark to salt the game away.

• Berry outshot Goucher 46-19 for the game and won 16 of the contest's 20 faceoffs.
• Goucher goalie Justin Lugo (Davie, Fla./St. Andrew's) made 13 saves, while Rob Maraski made three saves for the Vikings.
• Nick Gambone (Norristown, Pa./LaSalle College) registered three caused turnovers, while Sean Nolan (Las Vegas, Nev./Faith Lutheran) and Kyle Ramos (Silver Spring, Md./Bethesda Chevy Chase) had two apiece.
• Ramos and Smith each had a team-high four ground balls apiece.
• Goucher and Berry were meeting for the first time.
• The Vikings won thrie third straight.

MLAX | A week after wrapping up the season with @Goucher_MBB, first year Jacob Morgan goes top shelf for his first collegiate goal to close out the third!#d3lax #GopherGreatness #GoucherProud pic.twitter.com/l2QZIuoynC

— Goucher Gophers (@GoucherSports) February 25, 2023

• Goucher travels to McDaniel on Wednesday evening for a 7 pm contest.
• The Gophers return home next Saturday, March 4, entertaining Lebanon Valley in a 1 pm tilt at Beldon Field.