Goal in Closing Moments Sends Gophers to 2-1 Defeat

TOWSON, Md. — With the score tied at 1-1 beginning the second half, Goucher held an 8-4 advantage in shots. By the time the final 45 minutes were completed, that margin had risen to 19-6 in favor of the Gophers.

The only goal after the intermission, however, went to the Ravens, as Lauren Whelan kicked in the game-winning strike with less than four minutes to play to give Rosemont a 2-1 victory.

"Today was a really hard loss to take given the overall quality of our performance," head coach Tati Korba said. "We had a large majority of the possession, created some great chances and our defense continues to do a great job limiting the number of scoring opportunities. This game is a bump in the road, but there are a lot of positives to take out of it as well that we can build on for the rest of the season."

Lindsey Puopolo (Glen Arm, Md./St. Timothy's) had the only strike of the game for Goucher (2-2-1). Led in on a breakaway by Brianna Hite (Port Republic, Md./Calvert), she fired a shot that was partially deflected by goalkeeper Jenna Kaiser but had enough strength to reach the back of the net.

The goal, Puopolo's team-leading third of the season, gave the Gophers a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute.

The Ravens (2-2-1) responded less than five minutes later. Cheyenne Tumolo lofted a long distance effort from outside the box on the left side which snuck past Juliana Harkavy (Memphis, Tenn./Ridgeway) and leveled up the score.

Led by Puopolo, who finished with a career-high nine shots, Goucher piled on the pressure in the second half but was unable to generate another goal.

Rosemont's go-ahead marker came off a cross. Harkavy was knocked out of the play after a collision, leaving an open net opportunity for Whelan in front that she was able to cash in on.

The Gophers had two final chances in the last minute of play, but shots from Puopolo and Brooke Merchant (Gaithersburg, Md./Thomas S. Wootton) both missed the target.

Puopolo's nine shots were the most for a Goucher player since Oct. 27, 2012. Gaby Davis (New York, N.Y./LaGuardia) added an additional five shots for the Gophers, who have either tied or outshot the opposition in every game this season.

Goucher hits the road for its next contest, a 7 p.m. matchup against Albright. The Gophers came away with a 1-0 victory when the two teams faced off last season.