TOWSON, Md. - Goucher's Emily Blatter (Lexington, VA/Rockbridge County) matched the NCAA Division III record for the second-most consecutive games with at least one goal by scoring five times today in the Gophers' 18-12 loss to St. Mary's (Md.).

Today's game was the 39th straight in which Blatter has supplied the Gophers with at least one goal, tying a streak by Erin Byrnes from Eastern Connecticut St. from 1997-99. The NCAA Division III record for most consecutive games with at least one goal is 45, achieved from 2001-03 by Liz Baumbach from Scranton.

The last time Blatter failed to score a goal was March 18, 2006 against Salisbury, and the senior attacker's five-goal performance today against the Seahawks boosted her season total to 50.

It took the Seahawks (10-4) less than five minutes to establish a 6-0 lead over the Gophers. Emily Norris and Allie Zerhusen both scored twice during the opening flurry.

Marlo Tersigni (Worcester, MA/Lawrence Academy) got the Gophers (3-9) on the scoreboard with an unassisted goal at 22:04.

Blatter and Colleen Cole (Holliston, MA/Northfield Mt. Hermon School) both capitalized on free-position chances to score goals in the final 6:14 of the first half, helping the Gophers close to within 9-5 at the break.

The Seahawks took a 15-8 lead midway through the second half on a goal by Zerhusen, but the Gophers responded with four unanswered goals, pulling to within 15-12 on an unassisted goal by Kate Knitter (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) with 4:13 left to play.

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Towson, Md. – The St. Mary's College of Maryland women's lacrosse team won its first game as the 15th-ranked team in Division III as the Seahawks (10-4) posted an 18-12 victory over former conference opponent, Goucher College, Tuesday afternoon.

In the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association/Under Armour® Division III Weekly Poll released today, St. Mary's jumped up three spots to No. 15 after spending two weeks at No. 18.

Junior midfielder Allie Zerhusen (Cockeysville, Md./Park) led St. Mary's with a career- and game-high five goals, while freshman midfielder Aileen McCausland (Phoenix, Md./Hereford) added a game-high six points on three goals and three assists as well as five draw controls.

The Seahawks opened up the contest with a 6-0 run with Zerhusen and junior attacker Emily Norris (Timonium, Md./Dulaney) each scoring twice in the 4:37-minute stretch. Goucher's Marlo Tersigni netted back-to-back goals in 37 seconds to put the Gophers on the board.

Both teams each tallied three goals in the first half's final 19:32 as the Seahawks carried a 9-5 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

Goucher (3-9) pulled within three twice in the second stanza's first six minutes but St. Mary's scored four straight to increase its lead to 14-7 at 18:32. A 5-1 Gopher spurt had Goucher only trailing 15-12 with 4:13 left on the clock as Emily Blatter and Kate Knitter both notched two in the run.

Zerhusen sealed the win for the Seahawks with two consecutive goals in the game's final 2:22.

Junior midfielder Lauren Carrier (Crownsville, Md./Old Mill) finished the afternoon with five points (3g, 2a) along with five draw controls, while Norris had a hat trick and sophomore attacker Kelsey Branch (Jarrettsville, Md./North Harford) chipped in two goals and an assist.

St. Mary's won 22 of 32 draw controls as sophomore defender Karissa Carroll (Long Island, N.Y./Ward Melville) had a game-high seven draw controls, while SMCM outshot the Gophers, 31-21. Goucher picked up 26 of 47 ground balls.

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2008-04-15