Gophers Pin Convincing 18-4 Setback on Quakers
Five First-Year Players Produce Combined Total of 10 Goals
February 21, 2009
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Goucher's veteran defense performed close
to expectations, but first-year players also made their share of
contributions as the Gophers launched their 2009 season
successfully this afternoon, downing Guilford, 18-4.
With most of the key components of a defensive unit that ranked
third in Division III at 5.75 goals allowed per game last year
back, it wasn't a big surprise that the Gophers kept Guilford (0-1)
off the scoreboard until David Heltzel's unassisted goal with 3:28
remaining in the third quarter. Austin Main (Berlin,
Md./Stephen Decatur) started in goal and made saves on all
six shots the Quakers got off during the opening 37:46.
What head coach Kyle Hannan couldn't count on this early in the
season was how much offensive production he would get out of his
freshman class.
He had to be pleased, considering freshmen accounted for 10 of
the 18 goals and six of the nine assists the Gophers (1-0) put up
during the game. In the first period alone, first-year players
tallied three goals and dished out a pair of assists as the Gophers
bolted out to a 6-0 lead after 15:00.
The game was only 1:17 old before senior midfielder Alex
Boucher (North Wales, Pa./Germantown Academy) put Goucher
ahead 1-0 with an unassisted even-strength goal. Two other seniors
– midfielder Brian Hoge (Crofton,
Md./Arundel) and attackman Sam Fitzpatrick
(Littleton, Colo./Arapahoe) – combined to score
seven goals in the non-conference victory.
The rest were all suppied by freshmen: attackmen Kyle
Boncaro (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) and Rory Averett
(Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North) both scored three times
in the first game of their collegiate careers, midfielder
Matt Lynch (Ivyland, Pa./LaSalle College) had two
goals and midfielders Jackson Lane (Aurora, Colo./Smoky
Hill) and Pat Peddicord (Timonium,
Md./Dulaney) one apiece.
Boncaro also picked up assists on three goals.
Nick LaBricciosa (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown
West) won 17 of the 22 faceoffs he attempted for Goucher,
which finished with a 59-22 advantage in shots.
Guilford's four goals were all unassisted and were scored by four
different players.