Gophers Drop First Road Test of the Season at Bridgewater

BRIDGEWATER, Va. - Senior Julia Gazzola (Hagerstown, Md./North Hagerstown) continued her torrid scoring pace to start the season with five goals, but the Goucher College women's lacrosse team was on the wrong end of a 15-7 decision at Bridgewater (Va.) College in non-conference action at the Jopson Athletic Complex Friday evening.

• The Eagles (1-1) scored just 30 seconds into the game.
• Goucher (0-2) tied the game 1-1 at the 12:06 mark as Gazzola scored on an assist from Emily Flinn (Ashland, Va./Patrick Henry).
• Bridgewater scored the next two goals, including a man-down goal, before a free position goal by Flinn with just under four minutes left pulled the Gophers back within one.
• The hosts scored the final two goals of the period and led 5-2 after 15 minutes.

• Bridgewater scored three goals in the first three minutes of the second to extend its lead to 8-2.
• Gazzola scored on a feed from Flinn with 30 seconds left before halftime to make it 8-3 at intermission.

• Bridgewater's Lauren Roberts and Gazzola traded the first four goals of the second half, with Gazzola's second tally of the quarter with six minutes left making it 10-5.
• The Eagles scored twice, including a goal with nine seconds left, to lead 12-5 with 15 minutes to go.

• Bridgewater increased its lead to 14-5 with goals at 11:14 and 8:31.
• Gazzola and Lia Oren (Milwaukee, Wisc./Nicolet) scored 1:05 apart, with Oren converting a free position with 6:04 to go to close out Goucher's scoring.

• Bridgewater outshot Goucher 28-16 on the evening.
• Gazzola scored her five goals on eight shots (six on goal).  She also posted three ground balls and a pair of draw controls.
• Flinn notched a goal and four assists, and added two ground balls and two caused turnovers.
• Oren registered four draw controls and three ground balls.
• Yoyo Karuma (Chiba, Japan/Aoyama Gaukin) and Bella McKinney (Virginia Beach, Va./Kempsville) led the Gophers with three caused turnovers apiece.
• Molly Smith (Damascus, Md./Damascus) notched a team-best four ground balls.
• Belle Christ (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) made six saves through the first three quarters.  Sydney Lewis (Baltimore, Md./Carver) made a pair of saves in her first collegiate action in the fourth.

• Goucher returns to action Wednesday when it travels to Alvernia for a 6 pm contest.
• The Gophers return home on Saturday, March 5 when they host Muhlenberg in 1 pm matchup at Beldon Field.