TOWSON, Md.  Methodist men's lacrosse team began the 2023 season on road at Goucher College, on Saturday afternoon, in a non-conference matchup. It was not the start that the Monarchs wanted as they fell, 7-4, to the Gophers on Beldon Field.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: Goucher def. Methodist, 7-4
Records: Methodist 0-1, Goucher 1-0
Location: Beldon Field; Townson, Maryland

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Striking first was Goucher as Dylan White found the back of the cage to give his team the early lead. Methodist would take advantage of a couple of Gopher penalties to allow Hunter Vaughan to tie the game up. In the closing seconds of the opening quarter, Goucher retook the lead with Ben Smith getting a ball past the Methodist keeper to it make 2-1.
• Smith put the Gophers up 3-1 after he scored his second goal of the contest. The Monarchs though registered two more scores -- one by Vaughan and the other by Cy Horner -- to make it 3-3 heading into the break.
• In the third period, Smith tallied back-back goals to give Goucher the advantage once again.
• Goals by Smith, his fifth of the contest, and Jack McDermott sealed the game away for the Gophers in the fourth stanza. J.R. Newman recorded the final goal for Methodist as the clock was about to expire.

FAST FACTS

• The Monarchs had their chances to score. They actually outshot Goucher 39 to 30, including a 17 to 5 difference in the first quarter.
• Methodist capitalized on their extra man advantage by finding the back of the net twice, out of four. The Gophers were 0 for 4 in their up chances.
• Newman and Tyler Bennett were excellent on faceoffs, as the two won nine of the Monarchs 10 faceoff wins.

UP NEXT
Methodist returns to Fayetteville for its home opener on Wednesday, February 22, when the team welcomes St. Andrews University. Opening face-off is scheduled for 6 p.m