Green Terror Keep Gophers From 3-0 Start to Season

WESTMINSTER, Md. — For Goucher to get to 3-0 for the first time since 2005, the Gophers were going to have to slow down a team that had scored 16 goals in its first two games of the season and pay particular attention to one player who accounted for half of that total.

The Gophers were able to keep McDaniel's Shane McCracken, who was recognized as the Division III Disney/NSCAA Men's Soccer Player of the Week for the four-day period ending September 2, off the scoreboard, but the Green Terror (3-0) still managed to come away with a 2-0 victory.

The only goal of the first half was scored by Luis Calderon in the 31st minute as he finished off a through ball from Edgar Escobar.

The Gophers (2-1) stayed within a goal of their in-state rivals until the ball went in off of a defender following a corner kick in the 79th minute. The own goal made the score 2-0 in favor of the home team.

McCracken, who racked up eight goals and an assist in wins over Southern Vermont, 10-1, and LaRoche, 6-2, unleashed seven shots in today's contest. Ethan DeBandi, who made his third consecutive start of the young season in goal for Goucher, finished with four saves, one of them on an attempt by McCracken.

The Green Terror finished with a 20-12 advantage in shots.