TOWSON, Md. - Three extra-man goals helped Goucher jump out to a 5-2 lead over Whittier after one period today and the Gophers went on earn an 11-8 victory over the Poets.

The win not only avenged a 12-4 loss to Whittier last season, but it also allowed the Gophers (6-2) to match the best start to a season after eight games in their 17-year existence.

Goucher's first man-up opportunity in the first quarter resulted in a goal by Dave Duff that created a 2-2 tie. Brian Hoge and Sam Fitzpatrick also tallied extra-man goals in the opening 15:00.

Even-strength goals by Alex Boucher and Casey Hughes in the first 1:24 of the second period bumped Goucher's lead up to 7-2, but a goal by Anthony Lackey with :56 remaining before halftime allowed the Poets to close to within 7-4 at the break.

Fitzpatrick scored twice in the third quarter -- his team-leading 17th and 18th goals of the season -- as the Gophers opened up an 11-5 advantage, which proved to be enough to withstand the three unanswered goals the Poets produced in the fourth period.

Fitzpatrick and Lackey supplied their respective teams with four goals and three assists. The Gophers finished with a 33-23 edge in shots.

2008-03-28