EDWARDSVILLE – Despite a late goal in the final two minutes of the game, the Wilkes University field hockey dropped a 2-1 decision to visiting Goucher College Saturday afternoon in both teams Landmark Conference opener at Schmidt Stadium.
 
Wilkes fell to 2-6 overall and 0-1 in Landmark play following the home defeat. Goucher improved to 6-1 overall and 1-0 in league contests.
 
Goucher opened the scoring in the first quarter when Kaitlyn Bucci dribbled through the right side and deposited a shot inside the left post to give the Gophers a 1-0 lead.
 
Bucci was at it again in the third frame when a foul was called on a shot attempt giving a penalty stroke attempt. Bucci found the back of the net for the second time pushing the advantage to 2-0 with 10 minutes left in the third quarter.
 
From there Wilkes made things interesting when Morgan Hermanofski (Shickshinny, PA/Northwest Area) drilled home a ball that was sitting three feet in front of the goal to cut the lead in half at 2-1 with just 1:28 left in the game.
 
Goucher sealed the conference win anchoring down on defense not allowing the game-tying tally despite several penalty corner attempts to and the final minute of play.
 
Wilkes held a 13-7 shot advantage while garnering 10 penalty corners to Goucher's four attempts.
 
Olivia Wickel (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) was solid in net finishing with one save while Katie Bloom recorded the win for Goucher making four stops throughout.
 
Wilkes continues its home stretch on Wednesday hosting Cedar Crest College on Staff Appreciation Night at 7:00 p.m. at Schmidt Stadium.