Gophers Edged by Royals on the Road

HARRISONBURG, Va. - Host Eastern Mennonite broke a 2-2 tie with just 42 seconds remaining as the Royals edged Goucher College 3-2 in non-conference field hockey Wednesday evening at the EMU turf field.

• Eastern Mennonite (5-1) had five shots in the first 7:42 of the game, with three turned aside by Goucher (1-4) goalie Julia Foster (Pylesville, Md./North Harford).
• Maria Campbell (Cumberland, Maine/Greely) had Goucher's first shot at 9:41 that was blocked.
• The Royals had a penalty corner in the waning moments of the period.

• Brandy Troutman scored 2:23 into the second to give EMU a 1-0 lead.
• 6:50 before halftime, the Gophers evened the game 1-1 on a goal by Macy Motovidlak (Wittman, Md. / St. Michaels) as she sent a dribbler from inside the top of the arc that snuck through.
• Each side put a shot on goal in the final minute of the first half.

• With 6:50 remaining in the third, Zoe Mikles (Jarrettsville, Md./North Harford) blasted a shot from the arc that made its way through.  After an officials' huddle it was ruled a good goal to put Goucher in front 2-1.
• Eastern Mennonite converted a penalty corner with Juliana Ghally scoring to put the hosts back in front with just under five minutes remaining, 

• EMU had three shots blocked with just under five minutes remaining and another one with 2:30 on the clock.
• The Royals generated a penalty corner with just under a minute left and Morgan Leslie converted for a 3-2 lead and the eventual victory.

• EMU outshot Goucher 17-7 and took five of the game's six penalty corners.
• Foster made five saves in goal for the Gophers, while Marie Wilson and Arianna Nixon combined to make one shot.
• Mikles and Rylie Belauskas (San Diego, Calif./University City) had two shots apiece for Goucher.

• Goucher opens Landmark Conference play on Saturday when it travels to Drew for a 1 pm contest.
• The Gophers return home on Monday, September 26 when they host Notre Dame of Maryland in a 7 pm game at Beldon Field.