The Basics
• Score: #9 Johns Hopkins-4, #13 Messiah-2
• Records: JHU (6-2) • MC (3-4)
• Location: Baltimore, MD • Homewood Field
• The Short Story: Senior Katie McErlean scored a pair of first-half goals to lead the ninth-ranked Johns Hopkins field hockey team to a 4-2 win over 13^th-ranked Messiah Wednesday night at Homewood Field.
 
How it Happened
• Hopkins struck early, capitalizing off one of its 14 corners on the night. Sophomore Abby Birk inserted the corner to McErlean, who blasted a one-timer from the top of the circle just 5:06 in. Less than 13 minutes later, the lead was two when Birk ran onto a crossing pass from sophomore Bryn Rolon and slotted a low shot past Megan Bomba.
• McErlean found the back of the cage with just 44.8 seconds remaining before the half. Junior Danika Berman inserted a corner to McErlean, who took one touch and fired a shot to the far post to stake Hopkins to a three-goal lead.
• Messiah got on the board 3:44 into the third quarter to make it a 3-1 game. Claire Myers took a shot off a Falcons' corner that was saved by sophomore Kaitlin Hall, but Kristen Musser scored off the rebound.
• The Blue Jays once again cashed in on a penalty corner. Birk inserted the corner to the short side to sophomore Sarah Matyas, who blasted a shot to the near post with 3:03 to play in the third. The Falcons got one back and cut the deficit to two less than four minutes later. Mackenzie Brubaker fired a shot from the top of the circle off a corner, and Jennie Young deflected it in at the right post.
 
What it Means
• Tonight's game was a rematch of the 2018 NCAA Quarterfinals that saw Hopkins upset top-ranked and undefeated Messiah, 3-2, in overtime.
• Hopkins improves to 2-3 all-time against Messiah and has won the last two meetings. The Blue Jays' four goals in the game are more than they had scored in the previous four meetings. In addition, it is the most goals allowed by the Falcons in a regular season game since a 7-4 win over the York Spartans on September 1, 2017.
 
Inside the Box Score
• This is McErlean's second career two-goal game while this is Birk's third career two-assist game.
• Birk leads the team with eight assists on the season, the most by a Blue Jay since Liane Tellier in 2012 (9).
• Hopkins outshot Messiah, 13-8, and had a 14-7 advantage in corners (14-7).
• Hall finished with three saves to earn the win. Bomba made six saves and got a defensive save from Kathryn Armstrong.
 
Up Next
• Hopkins returns to action on Saturday, September 28 as the Blue Jays travel to the Eastern Shore to take on Washington College. The Centennial Conference game is slated for a 4:00 pm start.