Gophers Present Raffo with Win in First Game as Head Coach

Goucher's Fifth Straight Victory in Series Between Local Rivals

TOWSON, Md. — Angela Buxton (Springfield, Mass./Central) and Taylor Benzel (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville) contributed the goals as Goucher presented Whitney Raffo with a 2-0 triumph over Notre Dame (Md.) in her first game as head coach of the Gophers tonight on Beldon Field.

Katie Gallagher (Green Brook, N.J./Watchung Hills Regional) was awarded an assist on Buxton's goal that put the Gophers (1-0) up 1-0 with 13:51 remaining in the first half. The score didn't change until Benzel tallied an unassisted goal with 5:17 left to play in the contest.

While they unleashed a total of 30 shots tonight, the Gophers prevented the Gators (0-1) from getting off a single shot the entire contest. This marks the fourth year in a row that one of Goucher's opponents failed to attempt at least one shot in a game. It happened last year when the Gophers rode a 43-0 advantage in shots to a 2-0 victory over Notre Dame, in 2009 when they opened their season with a 5-0 victory over Bryn Mawr and outshot the Owls, 26-0, and in 2008 in a 2-0 triumph over Notre Dame when shots were 21-0 in Goucher's favor.

Today's win was also the fifth straight for Goucher in the series between the two local rivals dating back to a 6-2 loss to the Gators back in 2003.