Gophers Polish Off Eagles for Fifth Straight Victory

Stricklin Allows One Goal Over Final 35:33, Makes 15 Saves

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Goucher scored the final two goals of the first half, the only goal of the third quarter and the first goal of the fourth period on the way to a 9-7 triumph over Mary Washington this afternoon.

The Eagles (4-4) were up 6-5 in the second quarter before a goal by sophomore attackman  Rory Averett (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North) with 2:38 remaining before halftime created the fifth tie of the contest. The Gophers (5-2) went ahead to stay 1:05 later on a goal by freshman midfielder John Curry (Yarmouth, Maine/Yarmouth).

The two teams unleashed a combined total of 18 shots in the third quarter, but the only goal of the period was scored by senior midfielder Jacob Fratella (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) at 8:02 and it provided Goucher with an 8-6 advantage heading into the final 15:00.

An extra-man goal by sophomore midfielder Matt Lynch (Ivyland, Pa./LaSalle College) 1:01 into the fourth quarter put the Gophers ahead 9-6, enough to withstand a goal by Mark Bowler with 4:49 left to play. Bowler's goal was the first for Mary Washington since Harry Snyder's extra-man goal in the second period put the Eagles up 6-5 and the only one allowed by senior goalkeeper Chris Stricklin (Germantown, Md./Seneca Valley) over the final 35:33.

Stricklin finished with 15 saves.

Averett, who extended his personal goal-scoring streak to 21 games, contributed three goals to the victory, the Gophers' fifth in a row following season-opening losses to Washington (Md.) and Gettysburg. Sophmore attackman Kyle Boncaro (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) had a hand in five goals, scoring one in the first quarter and picking up assists on two of Averett's goals, Fratella's goal in the third period and Lynch's man-up tally in the final stanza.