Hat Tricks By Johnson And Oakes Power Goucher Field Hockey Past Southern Virginia

BALTIMORE, Md. – Danielle Johnson (Salisbury, Md./Parkside) and Meghan Oakes (Boothbay, Maine/Boothbay Region) each recorded a hat trick to power Goucher College past Southern Virginia University 8-0 in non-conference field hockey action on Saturday.

Johnson, who also had an assist in the game, recorded her first career hat trick while the senior leads the team with four goals and an assist for nine points and now has five tallies and two assists for 12 points in her career.

Oakes turned the trick for the second time in her career after scoring three times against Hood on Sept. 6, 2018. The senior is third on the team with three markers and an assist for seven points while she has 11 goals and three assists for 25 points in her four years as a Gopher.

"The team has been working so hard and it was nice to see them all connect," said head coach Stacey Eversley. "The goals were all beautiful and a true team effort."

Ari Hooper (San Diego, Calif./Poway), the current Landmark Conference Offensive Player of the Week, added a tally and two assists. Mia Wiggins (San Diego, Calif./University City) notched her first collegiate goal and Mickey Nelson (Frederick, Md./Urbana) added her first two career helpers in the winning effort.

Johnson got the scoring started with an unassisted goal at 2:39 and Oakes posted an unassisted tally at 20:39 for a 2-0 lead. Johnson then set up Wiggins' first career score at 25:32 to give the Gophers a 3-0 lead at the break.

Hooper found the back of the cage off a Nelson assist on a penalty corner with no time remaining in the third quarter for a four-goal lead.

Goucher then scored four times in the fourth and now have outscored its opponent 7-1 in the final frame.

Aided by Hooper, Johnson found the cage for the second time on the afternoon at 46:07 and Oakes scored for the second time on the day at 48:19.

Johnson completed her hat trick unassisted at 51:21 while Nelson helped Oakes notch her second career three-goal performance with no time on the clock off a post corner.

Devin Brashear (Escondido, Calif. / San Pasqual) earned the win despite not facing a shot in the first three quarters. Julia Foster (Pylesville, Md./North Harford) made her collegiate debut and played the final 6:04 in the cage and recorded the lone Gopher save on the day.

Goucher, who opens the season 2-1 for the first time since 2015, will have a quick turnaround and will travel to Ferrum on Saturday.  Match time is 1 p.m.