Gophers Bow to Marlins in Season's First Road Test

Cole Sticks Five Goals, Sets Up Two Others in 18-15 Setback

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — After picking up two wins on a season-opening three-game homestand, Goucher went on the road for the first time in 2010 today and was dealt an 18-15 setback by Virginia Wesleyan.

The Gophers (2-2) took their only lead when Mary Lambert (Chapel Hill, N.C./Chapel Hill) scored the first goal off a free-position shot 2:47 into the contest. Before head coach Katie Trainor's squad picked up its second goal, Courtney Williams was able to stick three consecutive unassisted goals ahead of a goal by Mari Carmichael that provided the Marlins (2-2) with a 4-1 advantage midway through the first half.

The Gophers were down 7-5 entering the final minute of the first half, but scored twice off of free-position shots by Becca Smith (Leesburg, Va./Heritage) and Colleen Cole (Holliston, Mass./Northfield Mt. Hebron School) to pull into a 7-7 tie with :39 remaining. Before time expired, however, the Marlins regained the lead on a goal by Williams.

Virginia Wesleyan quickly extended its advantage to 11-7 by scoring three times in the first 6:18 of the second half. The closest Goucher was able to get after that was when Lambert buried a firee-position shot with 16:33 left to play, making the score 12-10.

Williams was able to duplicate her four-goal effort of the first half in the final 30:00 as she finished with a career-high eight goals on eight shots. Cole supplied the Gophers with five goals and a pair of assists and Smith wound up with four goals.