Gophers Nipped by Rangers in OT
April 23, 2022
MADISON, N.J. - The Drew University men's lacrosse team scored 2:09 into the first overtime session to lift itself to a 12-11 Landmark Conference victory over Goucher College Saturday afternoon at Ranger Stadium.
- Goucher (2-13, 1-5 Landmark) took a 1-0 lead 2:25 into the game on a goal by Ben Smith (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley).
- Drew (9-6, 3-3) tied the game at the 8:45 mark.
- Smith's second goal of the game with 5:14 left put the Gophers back in front. Jared Heath (Windham, N.H./New Hampton) assisted on the tally.
- Jack McDermott (Wilmington, Del./The White Mountain School) extended the lead to 3-1 with a man-down goal with 2:47 left in the first.
- Heath converted a man-up opportunity for the Gophers 15 seconds into the second to make it 4-1.
- Heath scored again with 6:13 on the clock to give the guests a four-goal advantage.
- The Rangers pulled within 5-2 with a goal with 1:39 left before halftime.
- Dylan White (Dagsboto, Del./Indian River) reclaimed a four-goal cushion for Goucher with his goal at the 10:07 mark.
- Back-to-back Drew tallies, including a man-down goal, 49 seconds apart made it 6-4 with 8:47 on the clock.
- Smith's third goal of the game with 7:56 left made it 7-4.
- The hosts rattled off three straight goals to tie the game 7-7 with 2:07 on the clock.
- Smith halted the Drew rally with a goal with eight seconds left to give the Gophers the lead heading into the final frame.
- Goals by Jared Halverson (Durham, N.C./Charles E. Jordan) at 13:01 and a second man-down goal by McDermott at 9:29 pushed the lead back to three for Goucher.
- Two man-up goals in a 43-second span by the Rangers cut the lead to 10-9, and a Craig Wilkie goal with 4:47 left tied the game once again.
- Heath converted a man-up opportunity for Goucher with 4:00 showing to again retake the lead, 11-10.
- Wilkie struck again with 2:04 left to forge a third tie.
- Drew won the ensuing faceoff but after a turnover with 1:15 to go, Goucher was able to hold for the final shot.
- A shot by McDermott in the final moments sailed high and the game headed to overtime.
- The Rangers prevailed on the opening faceoff after a long loose ball situation, but Goucher forced a turnover with 2:53 on the clock.
- A shot by Heath with 2:27 left was saved. Goucher retained possession but turned it over with 1:59 to go.
- Brian Widlisch scored for Drew after coming down the left side with 1:51 to go to give the hosts their first lead of the day and the win.
- Drew outshot Goucher 44-28 and won 16 of the game's 25 faceoffs.
- The Rangers were 3-8 in man-up scenarios, while Goucher was 2-4 with the advantage.
- Justin Lugo (Davie, Fla/Saint Andrew's School) made 17 saves in goal for the Gophers.
- Smith's four goals were a season-high and matched his career high.
- Heath finished with three goals and a pair of assists, while McDermott added two goals.
- Kyle Ramos (Silver Spring, Md./Bethesda Chevy Chase) had a pair of caused turnovers. He also had five ground balls.
- Goucher's overtime game was its first since downing Neumann 10-9 in OT on March 11, 2020, the last game in the shortened season.
- Goucher and Drew went to overtime for the second straight meeting, with the Rangers winning 14-13 in the 2019 season finale.
- Goucher closes out its season next Saturday on the road, traveling to Elizabethtown for a 1 pm tilt.