Barminski, Phillips Stand Out in Opening Month

TOWSON, Md. — A junior midfielder on the field hockey team who scored as many goals in the first eight games of the season as Goucher's opponents did and a sophomore defender on the men's soccer team who ended the month with a two-goal performance against Cairn were chosen as the Male and Female Gophers of the Month for September.

Lizzie Barminski (Ventura, Calif./Buena) earned the honor on the women's side for her team-leading total of six goals in the eight games head coach Megan Williams' squad played in the opening month of the season. The Gophers outscored their opponents, 31-6, on the way to a 7-1 record in September.

Starting with the Stevenson game on Sept. 9 in which her goal produced a 1-0 victory over the Mustangs, Barminski went on a five-game scoring run that that included a two-goal effort against Bethany (W.Va.) on Sept. 19.

"Lizzie is a player that we rely on in tough games and in tight situations," according to Williams. "She has a great game knowledge and strong field awareness. When the clock was running out in our game versus Stevenson, she was the player that found the back of the goal for us, as we look for her to do in our high-pressure games."

Drew Phillips (Hoosick Falls, N.Y./Hoosick Falls Central School) was selected as Gopher Male Athlete of the Month. He tallied the first goal of Goucher's first home game of the season, putting them up 1-0 over Rosemont on Sept. 4. He also contributed a pair of goals to a 5-1 triumph over the Highlanders on Sept. 30.

"Drew’s growth this past month as a player and leader has been amazing," said head coach Bryan Laut. "He adjusted to a new role playing center back and has been a consistent threat for us in the attack, scoring three keys goals (in September). He has also matured greatly and is rounding into one of the better leaders on our team, setting a tremendous example of how to work, compete and care through his play and strong training habits.

The selections of Barminski and Phillips as September's Gophers of the Month, announced today, were made by the school's sports information staff, in consultation with coaches and other athletic administrators. Also considered on the men's side was freshman Sean O'Flaherty (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central) from the cross country team and Jeremy Hardy (Brooklyn, N.Y./The Beacon School), a junior forward on the men's soccer team; Barminski beat out Juliana Harkavy (Memphis, Tenn./Ridgeway), a senior goalkeeper on the women's soccer team, and Cary Hundley (Ellicott City, Md./Marriotts Ridge), a sophomore rider on the equestrian team.