Need to Succeed: Gophers Pin 19-16 Loss on Poets

Reifsnyder Sticks Seven Goals, Triggers Decisive Six-Goal Run

WHITTIER, Calif. — Goucher broke open a tight game in the second half by stringing together six consecutive goals and then withstood a nearly identical response on the way to a 19-16 triumph over Whittier tonight.

The two teams were never separated by more than two goals at any point during the first half until an unassisted goal by Colleen Cole (Holliston, Mass./Northfield Mt. Hermon School) with :04 remaining in the period provided the Gophers (4-3) with a 12-9 advantage. The Poets (3-2), however, made it a one-goal game by sticking a pair of goals in the opening 1:12 of the second half.

An unassisted goal by Erin Reifsnyder (Austin, Texas/St. Andrews Episcopal) not only put Goucher up 13-11 with 25:27 remaining, but it also triggered a run of six goals that allowed the Gophers to expand their lead to 18-11 by the time Hannah Khin (Portsmouth, N.H./Portsmouth) scored off a free-position shot with 13:04 left to play.

Whittier stopped Goucher's run when Shaina Denny deposited a free-position shot into the net with 12:28 left to play and when the Poets tallied the next three goals, as well, they were down only 18-15 with nearly seven minutes still to be played.

The Poets' goal-scoring streak eventually reached five, but there was only :26 showing on the clock when Amiya Moretta made the score 18-16 with a goal off of a free-position shot. Before time expired, the Gophers added a goal by Mary Lambert (Chapel Hill, N.C./Chapel Hill) to their total.

Reifsnyder, who had eight goals in the first six games of the season, erupted for seven in tonight's non-conference victory. Khin, who was a perfect 3-for-3 on free-position shots, supplied the Gophers with five goals and an assist, while Lambert contributed four goals and an assist to the win.

Denny also finished with seven goals.

The Gophers, who defeated Whittier and Redlands during a Spring Break trip to California in 2010, outshot the Poets, 33-30.