Rangers Edge Out Gophers Late in Competition

MADISON, NJ - The Goucher College Gophers (3-8 overall; 0-3 conference) traveled to the Rangers of Drew University (5-4 overall; 2-1 conference) in the first game of their extended road trip. A commanding fourth quarter by the Rangers led them to the 12-8 win.

The Rangers won the opening draw, leading to quick attempts, both stopped by Josh Steinmiller in the first three minutes. The teams traded attempts before Jack Schiavone won the ball back for the Gophers off a caused turnover. This possession led to the first goal of the game from Jacob Morgan with 8:09 on the clock. The game fell neutral once again, with each team recording shots and forcing the goalies to action, but no one was able to break through. With 3:44 left in the first, Drew broke the stalemate to bring the game even at one. Despite four late attempts from Goucher to end the quarter, the game remained 1-1 heading into the second.

Sean Phillips opened the second quarter by winning the faceoff of a violation, which Drew quickly won back to record the first shot attempt of the quarter. A caused turnover from Jason Luk gave the Gophers the ball back, they used this to storm down the field and finish a goal from Scott Tayman to reclaim the lead. Drew responded, scoring the next two goals three minutes apart to bring the game to 3-2. Phillips won the ensuing faceoff, leading to the next goal from Morgan. The Rangers rallied with back-to-back goals less than a minute apart to give Drew the 5-3 lead at half.

The Gophers opened the second half with momentum. After a turnover from Drew, Morgan fed the ball to Gianni Karam for the Gophers first of the quarter (12:46). Drew rebuilt the two-goal lead less than two minutes later after winning the ball back. The game fell scoreless for the next five minutes, which featured six combined shots, before Morgan added the Gophers' fifth. A minute later, Morgan found the back of the net once again, to tie the game at six (4:03). The Gophers capitalized on a man-advantage to reclaim the lead, off a goal from Eli Jean-Jacques. The Rangers closed the quarter with two goals just over a minute apart to carry the 8-7 lead into the final quarter. 

Goucher opened the fourth with the faceoff win, but the Rangers used a penalty against the Gophers to add a man-up goal. Despite multiple shot attempts and two key saves from Steinmiller, Drew's offense was able to break through to bring their total to 10. Karam ended the Rangers' scoring run following a pass from Tayman (5:20). Drew added a goal just over a minute later. Following a penalty on the goal, James Czarnaski entered the game in goal for the Gophers. Drew scored the final goal of the game with 3:27 left on the clock.

Morgan led the Gophers with six points off four goals and two assists. With the six points today, Morgan tied the school record of 273 career points. Karam and Tayman followed behind with two points each. Schiavone led the defense with three caused turnovers, while Phillips added three groundballs. Milan Temple, James Dean, and Schiavone added three groundballs each.

Steinmiller added 56:57 in net, recording 19 saves on the 30 shots faced. Czarnaski added the final 3:03 in net, facing one shot. The faceoff team featured four different Gophers. Temple went 3-4, Phillips went 6-14, Mason Wolf went 1-4, and Schiavone added the final two attempts.

Drew outshot the Gophers, 43-30, and added more groundballs (42-21). The Rangers held the slight advantage on faceoffs, winning 14 of the 24. 

The Gophers continued their stretch of road games, with a game against the Colonels of Wilkes University on Saturday, April 4th, set to faceoff at 1pm.