Eagles Win Battle for Second Place, 14-13

Eagles Win Battle for Second Place, 14-13

March 13, 2007 

TOWSON, MD — Trailing by two this afternoon and time running out, Goucher managed to close to within a goal of Mary Washington when Kate Knitter (Sellerville, PA/Pennridge) successfully converted a free-position opportunity with :14 showing on the clock.

Even though they controlled the ensuing draw, the Gophers weren't able to get off a potential game-tying shot as the nationally ranked Eagles were able to hang on to a 14-13 victory and take over sole possession of second place in the Capital Athletic Conference.

The Gophers (2-3, 1-1 CAC) led 6-5 at halftime thanks to Knitter's unassisted goal with :02 remaining in the period, but found themselves trailing 11-7 midway through the second half. Four unanswered goals — three of them by Emily Blatter (Lexington, VA/Rockbridge County) — completely wiped out the lead the Eagles (5-1, 2-0 CAC) had built up, leaving the two teams tied at 11-11 with 10:04 left to play.

The Eagles, ranked No. 11 in Division III this week by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association, regained the lead at 12-11 on an unassisted goal by Caitlin Erickson with 7:44 remaining, but when Sandy Okun (Stevenson, MD/McDonogh School) tallied her fourth goal 3:24 later, the two teams were deadlocked for the seventh time.

The tie was broken when Kaitlyn Barker notched her fourth goal of the game for Mary Washington with 3:03 left to play. The Eagles' lead grew to 14-12 on an unassisted goal by Erickson with :26 showing on the clock.

In just the second start of her career, senior goalkeeper Janna Kaufman (Atlanta, GA/Walton) of the Gophers was credited with 14 saves.