GREENSBORO, N.C. - Brian Hoge scored four goals in visiting Goucher College's 18-4 lacrosse win over Guilford College Saturday in the season opener for both teams. Hoge was one of five Gophers to score at least three goals and had three scores in the first half.

Goucher scored the game's first 12 tallies before Guilford's Manny Sargeant got the Quakers on the board. The Gophers led 12-1 after three periods and scored five of their eight extra-man goals in the fourth quarter.

The Gophers' Kyle Boncaro, who netted two man-up tallies, totaled a game-high six points on three goals and three assists. Sam Fitzpatrick added three goals and two assists and Matt Lynch finished with four points on two goals and two assists. Rory Averett also scored three times for the Gophers, who outshot their hosts, 59-22. Austin Main made six saves and did not yield a goal in over 37 minutes in goal. He gave way to Chris Stricklin, who made six stops as well.

Guilford's goalie tandem of Ryan Welsh and Mark Guillen combined for 25 stops, including 13 by Guillen in the final 28:55.

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GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Goucher's veteran defense performed close to expectations, but first-year players combined to score 10 goals as the Gophers launched their 2009 season successfully this afternoon, downing Guilford, 18-4.

With most of the key components of a defensive unit that ranked third in Division III at 5.75 goals allowed per game last year back, it wasn't a big surprise that the Gophers kept the Quakers (0-1) off the scoreboard until David Heltzel's unassisted goal with 3:28 remaining in the third quarter. Austin Main started in goal for Goucher and made saves on all six shots Guilford got off during the opening 37:46.

What head coach Kyle Hannan couldn't count on this early in the season was how much offensive production he would get out of his freshman class. He had to be pleased.

Freshmen accounted for three of the six goals and two of the three assists the Gophers (1-0) put up in the first period. Goucher scored four more times in the second quarter and two of those goals came from first-year players.

The game was only 1:17 old before senior midfielder Alex Boucher put Goucher ahead 1-0 with an unassisted even-strength goal. Two other seniors -- midfielder Brian Hoge and attackman Sam Fitzpatrick -- combined to score seven goals in the non-conference victory.

The rest were all suppied by freshmen: midfielder Kyle Boncaro and attackman Rory Averett both scored three times in the first game of their collegiate careers, midfielder Matt Lynch had two goals and midfielders Jackson Lane and Pat Peddicord one apiece.

Boncaro also picked up assists on three goals.

Nick LaBricciosa won 17 of the 22 faceoffs he attempted for Goucher.

Guilford's four goals were all unassisted and were scored by four different players.

2009-02-21