Bay's Tap-In Goal in 54th Minute Lifts Gophers Past Bullets

GETTYSBURG, Pa. — It was Goucher's last chance to pick up a win during the month of October and the Gophers were up to the challenge as they pinned a 1-0 setback on Gettysburg tonight.

Five saves by freshman goalkeeper Nicholas Stolarz (Clark, N.J./Arthur L. Johnson) and an extraordinary defensive play by sophomore midfielder John Sturgis (Severn, Md./Archbishop Spalding) is what it took for the Gophers to keep the Bullets (3-12-1) off the scoreboard in the opening 45 minutes of play. Sturgis cleared a shot by Mark Yearick in the 38th minute off the goal line at the last possible moment before it went in.

The two teams combined for only seven shots the entire second half and the only one that really mattered was the one that sophomore forward Parker Bay (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) took in the 54th minute that put the Gophers (7-7-3) up 1-0. Junior forward Nate Margolis (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North) set up the goal by sending a cross from the left side, putting it where Bay could just tap it in for his fourth goal of the season.

Although Stolarz wasn't called upon to make a save in the second half, Gettysburg did get a shot off in the closing seconds in an attempt to tie the score, but it was blocked by a defender.

The Bullets finished with a 17-7 advantage in shots and were awarded 10 corner kicks compared to just one for the Gophers.

The Gophers played six games this month prior to tonight and were 0-4-2 in those contests.

Goucher wraps up its 2013 campaign on Saturday with a Landmark Conference game against Moravian in Bethlehem, Pa.