Men’s Soccer Outlasts Susquehanna in Key 1-0 Landmark Conference Victory

TOWSON, Md. - First-year Zachary LaFaver (Hanover, Pa.) scored the eventual game-winner in the first half, and the Goucher College men's soccer team defensive unit led by senior goalie Daniel Hendry (Lewisburg, Pa.) played lights out for 90 minutes, securing a 1-0 victory over Susquehanna in Landmark Conference play at Beldon Field on Saturday.

With the victory, the Gophers moved to 5-8-1 overall and evened their record in the Landmark Conference to 2-2. Susquehanna fell to 1-10-2 and 0-3-1 in the Landmark with the loss.

To kick off the match, it was an intense affair on both sides of the field, with both teams having scoring chances in the first 20 minutes of action.

In the 15th minute, the Gophers had a golden opportunity to crack a scoreless tie, as they were awarded a penalty shot. Unfortunately for the Gophers, the attempt was saved, keeping the game scoreless.

But, it did not take long for the Gophers to go back on the attack and score what turned out to be the game winner. It came a mere minute and 36 seconds after the failed PK, as LaFever played a ball that deflected off a Susquehanna defender in the box and into the back of the net from about five yards out, giving the Gophers a 1-0 lead.

That lead held for the rest of the half, as the Gophers had three other shots saved with a chance to go up 2-0. Despite that, Goucher went up with the lead and the momentum over Susquehanna at 1-0.

In the second half, Susquehanna grabbed the momentum back, as the Gophers fired just two shots (one of which was on net) in the entire half, compared to 13 for the River Hawks.

However, the Goucher defense was up to the task all half. After posting just a lone save in the first half, Hendry had six in the second half to preserve the shutout victory for the Gophers.

Overall, Susquehanna outshot Goucher, 18-8 and held a 10-3 edge on corner kicks.

For Hendry, the shutout victory was his third of the 2018 season and the 16th shutout of his career at Goucher. With 16 career shutouts, Hendry is now tied for the most shutouts in a career in Goucher program history, joining Tom Feuerstein (2003-06).

LaFaver, meanwhile, scored his second goal of the season in the win, along with the first game-winner of his career at Goucher.

The Goucher College men's soccer team returns to action on Wednesday, hosting Catholic in a big Landmark Conference match-up at Beldon Field. Action gets underway at 7 p.m.

--GOPHERS--