Hat Trick by McCracken Propels Green Terror to 4-1 Win

Bay's Goal at 39:38 Allows Gophers to Close to Within 2-1

WESTMINSTER, Md. — Goucher, which once trailed 2-0, was down to McDaniel only 2-1 at the end of the first half this afternoon, but the Green Terror tacked on two more goals in the final period to come away with a 4-1 triumph over the Gophers.

McDaniel, picked in a preseason coaches poll to finish in a tie for ninth place in the Centennial Conference, assumed a 1-0 lead on a goal by Shane McCracken at 9:37. Max Rutherford, who was awarded an assist on the opening goal of the contest, put the Green Terror (2-1) ahead 2-0 when he scored at 21:09.

Two freshmen hooked up on the play that got Goucher on the scoreboard prior to halftime and trimmed McDaniel's lead to 2-1: George El-Khoury (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) set up a goal by Parker Bay (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) at 39:38 with a through ball.

Any momentum that the Gophers (0-2-1) may have realized from Bay's goal didn't seem to carry over to the second half, however, as they were able to get off only one shot during the final 45 minutes of the contest. The Green Terror, on the other hand, unleashed nine additional shots that produced goals by McCracken at 59:54 and 81:33.

With his three-goal performance today, McCracken now has five goals through the first three games of the season for McDaniel.