Gophers Overcome Luckless Start, Turn Back Blazers

FREDERICK, Md. — Fresh off its Spring Break training trip, Goucher came out firing and landed a 14-5 setback on Hood in non-conference action this evening.

For most of the first half, the Gophers (4-4)  couldn't catch a break as Ceri Miller's squad forced six caused turnovers and placed eight of its 14 shots on goal, all of which were saved by Blazers' keeper Lauren Couch to hold a slim, 1-0 lead in favor of Hood.

All that changed with 7:51 remaining in the first as Dani McCreary (Upper Marlboro, Md./Bishop McNamara) ripped the team's 15th shot into the goal to tie the game at one a piece.

That was just the beginning as Jojo Franklin (Denver, Colo./Kent Denver School) picked up of the next draw control, ran through Hood's defense and scored another goal, coming just 10 seconds after McCreary's, to take the 2-1 lead.

The Gophers added three more goals, one from Jessica Borucki (Westminster, Md./North Carroll), Sophie Smith (Lawrenceville, N.J./Madison) and another from Franklin, in the final seven minutes to hold a 5-1 advantage at the break.

Jade Locklear trimmed the lead to three for the Blazers (4-5) as she notched a goal with 28:12 remaining in the second.

In the next 14 minutes of play, Goucher scored five straight goals to extend the advantage, 10-2.

Hood tallied three more goals after that point but the Gophers added four of their own, closing out the contest.

Smith led scoring with four goals while four others contributed two each in the win.

Stellar play on the defensive side of the field for the Gophers as they finished with 13 caused turnovers and only allowed 13 shots.

Goucher opens Landmark Conference play on Saturday as it welcomes the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy to Beldon Field. The opening draw is set for 12 p.m.