Draw Control Disparity Helps Saints Edge Gophers

ARLINGTON, Va. — Glancing through today's box score between Goucher and Marymount, many of the stat categories favored the Gophers. Goucher had advantages in both shots and ground balls, and it also committed six fewer turnovers than the Saints.

Marymount, though, held a commanding 18-6 edge in draw controls, and the Saints used those extra possession opportunities to help come away with a tight 13-10 victory this afternoon.

Ten of the 13 goals for Marymount (5-2) were scored immediately following a successful draw control. The Gophers (6-5) fell to 1-4 in road games this season.

Goucher found itself in a 3-0 hole before the game was less than two minutes old, and the Saints extended their lead to 5-1 with 20:40 still remaining in the first half. The Gophers would rally, scoring four of the half's final five markers to cut the deficit to 6-5 heading into the break. Rita Meissner (Yonkers, N.Y./Yonkers) and Megan Meluskey (Wilmington, Del./Concord) each had a pair of first half goals to lead the attack.

Marymount once again jumped on Goucher early in the following half, winning the first three draw controls and scoring three resulting goals in the first 1:31 of the frame.

Meissner and Hannah Mae Brown (Pinedale, Wyo./Dunn School) each converted free position shots to make it 9-7, Saints, with 15 minutes remaining. Marymount responded by scoring three of the next four goals to restore its four-goal advantage at 12-8.

The Gophers had one last comeback attempt in them. Brown and Meissner each registered goals, with Meissner's coming with 2:43 remaining in the contest, but Goucher could get no closer. Megan McGuirk iced the game for the Saints with one second remaining. McGuirk finished with four goals and three assists to power Marymount's offensive effort.

Meissner paced the Gophers with four goals. She now has nine tallies in her last two games, and she is up to 22 for the season, becoming the fourth Gopher to cross the 20-goal barrier. Brown added three goals and an assist, while Anneke Ossorio (Lafayette, Colo./Kent Denver School) rounded out the scoring with her 22nd goal of the season.

Goucher outshot Marymount 29-25, and the Gophers held a 26-19 advantage in ground balls, led by four apiece from Brown and Stefi Perry (Houston, Texas/Klein). Meluskey, who also had an assist to go along with her two goals, caused a team-high three turnovers.

Today's six draw controls was a season-low for the Gophers, and it was only the second time this season that Goucher has recorded less than 10 in a game.

The Gophers will now have 10 days off before resuming conference play at home against Merchant Marine (1-3, 0-1 Landmark) at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 5. This is only the second year of existence for the Mariners' women's lacrosse program, and it is their first season competing in the Landmark Conference.