Jimmy Waters at Immaculata 040115
8
Winner Elizabethtown ETWN-M 12-2, 5-0 Landmark
7
Goucher GOU 7-5, 2-3 Landmark
Winner
Elizabethtown ETWN-M
12-2, 5-0 Landmark
8
Final
7
Goucher GOU
7-5, 2-3 Landmark
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Elizabethtown ETWN-M 2 1 2 3 8
Goucher GOU 2 2 2 1 7

Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse |

Waters scores winner late, Blue Jays clinch postseason berth at Goucher

TOWSON, Md. – Being the last Landmark Conference team with a zero in the loss column carries plenty of extra weight with it.

Every team Elizabethtown has faced over the last few weeks has brought its 'A' game, and Saturday afternoon was no exception.

Goucher led by two with 7:28 to play, but the Blue Jays scored the last three goals, including Jimmy Waters' game-winner with 15 seconds remaining to clinch a Landmark Conference Championships berth with an 8-7 victory over the Gophers.

Jason Clough brought the Jays (12-2, 5-0 Landmark) within a goal with 7:28 left and Russell LeClair tied the game at seven on his 30th goal of the season at the 3:56 mark.

Defense then set up the offense in the final minute. Matt Frey forced one of his game-high three turnovers with 46 seconds left and Elizabethtown cleared with 28 seconds to go.

Goucher's Gavin Wilson took an ill-timed tripping penalty at the same time, setting up an extra-man opportunity that would ultimately decide the game for the Blue and Gray.

Thirteen seconds into the penalty, Mike Specht found Waters for the go-ahead goal, his eighth of the season.

Frey, a two-time all-conference defenseman, came up with one more huge stop in the final seconds, knocking the ball away from Wilson and picking up the ground ball to extend the Blue Jays' program record winning streak to 11 games.

The final caused turnover was Frey's 31st of the season, setting a new career-high for the West Grove native.

E-town went in front 2-0 early in the first quarter on goals by Cory Myer and LeClair 58 seconds apart. Myers' goal was the first of his career, while LeClair's was the first of three man-up goals for the visitors Saturday.

Goucher (7-5, 2-3 Landmark) equalized before the quarter came to an end with goals out of the pockets of Wilson and Conner Annunziato.

Mike Specht closed in on his first 20-goal season with No. 19 at 8:34 of the second, but Owen Demmerly tied it for the Gophers 90 seconds later and Sam Morgan registered his 20th of the spring at 4:15 to give upset-minded Goucher a 4-3 lead at half.

The Specht brothers shined in their return to the lineup. Mike Specht's four points on a goal and three assists were tied for a game-high with LeClair (3 goals, 1 assist). He also had a team-high four ground balls. Nick Specht collected two assists and two caused turnovers.

Chris Wenger made 10 saves for the Blue Jays, who outshot Goucher 22-11 in the second half and 37-30 for the game.

Elizabethtown's ball management was on point all game long, as it committed a season-low 10 turnovers and only four after the half.

LeClair posted his third consecutive hat trick and fourth straight multi-point game. The senior from Elkridge, Md. registered the 11th 30-goal season by a Blue Jay all-time and second this season, along with Joe Clark (32).

The Gophers, like most teams, tried to minimize Clark's impact. He managed a third quarter assist on LeClair's goal, but was held to five shots and two ground balls otherwise.

Kevin Meakim also scored for Elizabethtown, which improved to 6-1 on the road with the victory.

The Blue Jays will find themselves back in the postseason for the first time since 2011 when the Landmark Conference Championships begin in just over two weeks.

They'll get some time for recovery with just two regular season games remaining, the first of which is next Saturday's home finale against Washington & Jefferson at 3 p.m. Prior to the game, the Blue Jays will honor their eight seniors.
 
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