Den Boer Clutch in One-Goal Win over Crusaders

TOWSON, Md. — Bridget Den Boer (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) stepped up for Goucher in a big way this afternoon. With playoff implications on the line, Den Boer recorded 12 saves, five of which were off free-position shots. Susquehanna took to the 8-meter arc three times with a chance to either take the lead and/or tie the game but the sophomore keeper came through each time. The final free-position save came with 6:30 remaining in the second half, which held the one-goal advantage in favor of Ceri Miller's squad and eventually led to the 10-9 victory.

• The pendulum swung back and forth throughout the first 16 minutes of the contest. The Gophers (8-7, 2-3 Landmark) notched the first three goals then the visiting team evened it up with three of their own.
  

• Goucher gave itself a cushion toward the end of the first as Sophie Smith (Lawrenceville, N.J./Madison) and Kathrina DeMaio (Livingston, N.J./Mount Saint Dominic Academy) accounted for four of the team's five goals, to take an 8-3 lead, heading into the break.

• The Crusaders (6-8, 3-2 Landmark) opened up the second half with three goals to cut the Gophers' lead to two.

• A strike by Jessica Borucki (Westminster, Md./North Carroll) with 18:51 left on the clock put the advantage back to three but Susquehanna notched two, in the next five minutes, to trail by one.

• From the 13-minute mark and on, Goucher's defense swarmed as it forced six caused turnovers, two of which came from Kat Carnevale (Portland, Ore./St. Mary's Academy), one of two seniors on the roster who were recognized in a brief ceremony prior to the game.

• Smith pushed her fourth goal past the opposing keeper with 5:33 remaining to extend the home team's lead back to two. That goal was of high importance as Susquehanna struck with six seconds left and didn't have enough time on the clock to garner a final possession.

• Jojo Franklin (Denver, Colo./Kent Denver School) was the fourth player to score two or more goals and register two caused turnovers in today's game. Senior Dani McCreary (Upper Marlboro, Md./Bishop McNamara) had one of three assists.

It's déjà vu all over again for Goucher as the team looks ahead to another must-win game against Drew. Last year, the Gophers earned the victory over the Rangers, which sent them to the Landmark playoffs. The winner of Saturday's contest will travel to either Catholic