Six Goals by Smith Guarantees Happy Ending for Seniors

Gophers Close Out 2012 Campaign by Thrashing Griffins

TOWSON, Md. — Goucher took a 1-0 lead just 15 seconds into today's game against Gwynedd-Mercy when Becca Smith (Leesburg, Va./Heritage), one of four seniors on the 2012 roster playing the final game of her career, deposited a free-position shot in the goal.

Smith went on to score five more times and the six goals she finished with matched the number the Griffins managed the entire game as the Gophers rolled to a convincing 21-6 victory on Beldon Field.

The Gophers (5-10), in fact, opened up a 5-0 advantage just 3:36 into the contest and needed only five shots to get there. They couldn't maintain such a lofty shooting percentage, but the 22 shots they took in the first half did produce 16 goals.

Smith already had three goals to her credit and Hannah Khin (Portsmouth, N.H./Portsmouth), Anneke Ossorio (Lafayette, Colo./Kent Denver School) and Andi Lipson (Langhorne, Pa./George School) had chipped in with one apiece before the Griffins (7-8) got on the scoreboard for the first time on an unassisted goal by Amy Powell after 5:53 had elapsed.

Following Powell's goal, the Gophers ripped off another six goals in succession, taking a 12-1 lead on a goal by Erin Reifsnyder (Austin, Texas/St. Andrews Episcopal) with 11:32 remaining before halftime.

A goal by Mary Lambert (Chapel Hill, N.C./Chapel Hill) with :08 showing on the clock provided the Gophers with a commanding 16-3 advantage at the break.

In addition to the six goals by Smith, Reifsnyder contributed five goals to the victory and Khin had four goals to go along with nine draw controls.

Hannah Brown (Pinedale, Wyo./Dunn School) and Reifsnyder led the Gophers in ground balls with seven apiece; Ossorio was credited with a team-best three caused turnovers.