Men's Lax Runs Into Tough Goucher Squad in Opener

The College of Wooster men's lacrosse team played Tuesday (March 20) in Newport Richey, Fla., against one of the hottest teams in the country, and unfortunately for Wooster, Goucher College stayed red-hot, bolting out to a 19-1 halftime lead and eventually defeating the Scots 27-7.

With a 6-1 record, Goucher is off to its best start in school history, while Wooster was playing its season opener.

The Gophers scored the contest's opening goal, but head coach John McKechnie's squad responded to tie it 1-1 just 1:11 into the game before Goucher reeled off 18-straight scores.

"We did not do a good job of handling the face-offs," McKechnie said. "And, in a game where that many goals are scored by both teams, we certainly have to do a better job of keeping possession."

The Scots were led by last season's runner-up for the North Coast Athletic Conference's Newcomer of the Year award - Colin Hartnett. The sophomore scored two goals and had the team's lone assist.

Adding one goal apiece in the loss were juniors Brandon Mohr and Adam Price, and freshmen Hugh Benson, Sam Brody, and Mike MacMaster.

The Gophers were led by their starting attack line consisting of Phil Anthony, Ashley Tarran-Jones, and Clay Ulman, who combined for 12 goals and seven assists, as well as Qadir Stern, who tossed in five goals by himself.

In goal, senior John Park managed to come up with 15 saves for Wooster, while Goucher's two goalies combined for 18 saves on the evening.

The Scots will try and rebound on Thursday (March 22), when they will battle the State University of New York at Geneseo at 5 p.m.