The Basics
• Score: #5 Johns Hopkins-3, #11 Messiah-2
• Records: JHU (18-2) • MC (17-5)
• Location: Baltimore, MD • Homewood Field
• The Short Story: The fifth-ranked Johns Hopkins field hockey team rallied twice to defeat 11^th-ranked Messiah, 3-2, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday at Homewood Field.
 
How it Happened
• Messiah struck first, scoring with 4:47 left in the first to take the early lead. Mackenzie Brubaker fired a shot from the top of the circle off a penalty corner that was saved by sophomore Kaitlin Hall. The ball rebounded out to Hannah Palm, who slotted it home.
• Hopkins answered just over 15 minutes later to tie the game at one. Sophomore Sarah Matyas sent a long ball down the sideline to classmate Bryn Rolon, who dribbled into the circle and drew the goalie out. She then passed to sophomore Maddie Brown-Scherer, who scored with her back to the goal.
• The Falcons grabbed the lead back at the 6:19-mark of the third corner. Jennie Young restarted the ball near the right sideline and slipped a pass through the defense to Palm. She one-timed the ball inside the left post to stake Messiah to a 2-1 lead.
• The Blue Jays answered with a pair of goals in just 64 seconds to take their first lead of the game. Hopkins capitalized on one of its 12 corners to tie the game with 2:14 to go in the third. Brown-Scherer received the corner and then found senior Katie McErlean with a behind-the-back pass. McErlean fired a low shot into the left side of the cage to knot the score at two.
• Just a minute later, sophomore Abby Birk lobbed a long pass over the Falcon defense and into the circle. The ball bounced to sophomore Myra Granato, who took one touch to settle the pass, and then tucked the go-ahead goal just inside the left post.
 
What it Means
• Hopkins improves to 3-3 all-time against Messiah and has won the last three meetings. This is the Blue Jays second win over the Falcons in the NCAA Tournament in the last two years.
• The Blue Jay seniors earned their 58^th win, tying the school record for wins in a four-year period. JHU's 18 wins this season are the second most in school history and are just one shy of the record (19 • 2018).
• Hopkins moves onto the NCAA Quarterfinals for the second straight year and third time in school history.
 
Inside the Box Score
• Brown-Scherer led the Blue Jays with a goal and an assist. Birk moved into a tie for 14^th in school history with 60 career points and is tied for third with 24 career assists. Her 18 assists this season are just one shy of the school record (Amy Bruschi • 2000).
• Hall finished with four saves while Matyas added a defensive save. Megan Bomba made two saves for the Falcons and Claire Myers made a defensive save.
• Hopkins outshot Messiah, 18-9, and had a 12-5 advantage in corners.
 
Up Next
• Hopkins will take on the winner of fourth-ranked Tufts and Denison in the quarterfinals on Sunday, November 17. The game will start at 1:00 pm at Homewood Field.