Release courtesy of Johns Hopkins Athletic Communications
BABSON PARK, MA – The fourth-ranked Johns Hopkins field hockey team shutout host and seventh-ranked Babson, 1-0, on a rainy Sunday afternoon. The Blue Jays advance to the NCAA Final Four for the fourth consecutive year.
Hopkins earned a pair of penalty corners in the opening minute, but graduate student Abby Birk's shot missed just wide right. Babson responded with corners at 5:24 and 10:27 in the first, with shots from Sanne van der Goes and Carolina DiGiovanni. Junior Alexis Loder was there to turn away both shots to keep the game scoreless.
Late in the second quarter, the Blue Jays again earned back-to-back corners but couldn't cash in. Hopkins got on the board with just 55 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Birk inserted a penalty corner to senior Olivia Fox at the top of the circle. She played the ball to senior Anna Scott on the left side of the circle, and she blasted a shot that deflected off a defender and inside the right post for the game's only goal.
Hopkins had advantages in shots (11-3) and corners (14-5) to earn its 15th consecutive win. Loder finished with a pair of saves, both coming in the first quarter. Bayla Furmanek. Made three saves in the loss for the Beavers.
Hopkins will now take on eighth-ranked Williams in the national semifinals on Friday, November 18. The Ephs upset top-ranked and undefeated Salisbury on Sunday afternoon. Game time is slated for 1:00 pm at Rowan's Coach Richard Wackar Stadium.
Notes: Hopkins is making its fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Final Four • The Blue Jays now boast the nation's longest win streak at 15 games • JHU has won five straight one-goal games and eight overall • Birk tied Chantal Serle's program record for career starts with 82.