Johns Hopkins 4, Rowan 2
The Johns Hopkins women's soccer team used three set-piece goals to storm by Rowan, 4-2, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday evening. The win propelled the Blue Jays to their fifth consecutive Sweet 16 as they take on Lynchburg.
Hopkins (17-4-1) and Rowan (13-4-1) battled back-and-forth throughout the match with a bevy of tremendous long-range goals, but it was the Blue Jays who gained the upper hand by scoring two headers in the second half to earn the victory.
The Blue Jays carried the momentum from their 5-0 first round triumph over Lancaster Bible, as they notched three corner kicks in the first 11 minutes against the Profs.
The third corner kick proved to be the ticket for Hopkins as Kelly Baker received the corner and played the ball across to Sydney Teng for the score in the 11th minute. The strike marked Teng's fourth goal of the tournament, setting a Hopkins NCAA Tournament record.
The early advantage was short-lived, however, as the Profs' Erika Suhl found the back of the net on a bullet from 20 yards out in the 14th minute. Rowan's leading scorer received a pass from teammate Jess Durnian and spun by a Hopkins defender to create space for the shot.
Fireworks continued into the 19th minute when the Blue Jays answered with a go-ahead goal by freshman Hope Lundberg. The rookie settled a clearance attempt by the Profs and fired a sizzling 25-yard shot into the side netting past goalkeeper Maria Dorris.
Undeterred, Rowan evened the match again as Miranda Donian cleaned up a loose ball and fired it past goalkeeper Meredith Maguire from 25 yards out in the 34th minute. Hannah Kronick (pictured) attempted to return the lead to Hopkins just before halftime, but was thwarted with a spectacular diving save by Dorris.
The Profs dominated possession in the first 15 minutes of the second half, but failed to capitalize on multiple opportunities.
The Blue Jays took advantage of Rowan's offensive ineptitude as freshman Issy Berkey nodded home a corner kick by Convey to put her side ahead, 3-2.
Rowan tried desperately to even the score line as it had twice before, but a shot off the crossbar in the 83rd minute by Morgan Muracco would be the closest it would come to squaring the match.
Hopkins was content to control possession for the final five minutes in the corner of Rowan's defensive zone, and eventually earned a free kick to the right side of the box in the 88th minute. The Blue Jays then sealed the match as Berkey played a looping ball into the box that was headed home by Kronick for her 24th goal of the season.
The Blue Jays scored four goals in 88 minutes against Rowan, who had allowed just six goals the entire season. The Profs had not given up more than two goals all season.