TOWSON, Md. - Goucher jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as it handed the Frostburg State men's lacrosse team an 18-4 setback in non-conference action Wednesday afternoon.

Box Score

The Gophers (1-3) jumped out to a 3-0 edge and increased their lead to 7-1 after the first quarter. Goucher scored seven goals on 10 shots in the opening quarter while Rory Averett and Zach Fratella each scored twice.

After falling behind 3-0, FSU (2-3) got on the board when leading scorer Dan Dowd (Friendship, Md./Southern) scored an unassisted tally at 9:18 to cut into the deficit. Dowd has scored in every game for the Bobcats and now has 12 goals on the season.

The final four goals of the first quarter were the beginning of an 11-0 run for Goucher that lasted through both the second and third quarters of play. Averett capped the run with just :03 seconds left in the third quarter as GC led 14-1.

Dowd scored another unassisted goal, this with 9:40 left in the fourth for the Bobcats, but the Gophers answered with a small 3-0 run that increased their advantage to 17-2.

FSU added a pair of quick goals that were separated by just 43 seconds late in the fourth. Freshman Brandon Lutz (Leonardtown, Md./Leonardtown) scored a man-up goal off an assist from classmate Ricky Kneebone (Catonsville, Md./Catonsville) to bring the count to 17-3 at 5:12.

After freshman Hunter Marshall (Pocomoke, Md./Worcester Prep.) won the ensuing faceoff, the Bobcats moved quickly into the offensive end before sending a shot wide of the cage. After a quick restart, Dowd found freshman Nick Finagin (Callaway, Md./Leonardtown) for the fourth Bobcat score of the afternoon at 4:29.

The Gophers scored the game's final goal with 3:30 to play for their first win of the season.

Despite the lopsided score, the Bobcats won 19-of-26 faceoffs and scooped up 41 ground balls.

Dowd led FSU with two goals and one assist while Lutz moved into third on the team in scoring with his sixth goal of the season. Finagin has now found the net in two-straight games. Marshall finished 8-of-12 on faceoffs while freshman Billy Lark (Huntingtown, Md./Huntingtown) was 11-of-14.

FSU freshmen keepers Tyler Haines (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) and Thomas Issermoyer (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty) each saw action between the pipes. Haines finished with five saves and Issermoyer stopped five shots.

Averett led the Gophers with five goals and two assists while Matt Lynch added five points on two goals and three assists.

Frostburg State hits the road again on Saturday when it travels to Widener for a 2:00 pm contest.