Release courtesy of Johns Hopkins Athletic Communications
DALLAS, PA- The second-ranked Johns Hopkins women's soccer team picked up a thrilling victory in overtime over Williams at Misericordia Saturday. The Blue Jays scored two goals in the first overtime period and held on to knock off the Ephs, 2-1. With the win, JHU is moving on to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, and the eighth time in program history.
After the first 90 minutes of regulation, the two teams were deadlocked at zero. However, it did not take long for the fireworks to go off in the first overtime period. Jacquelin Nordhoff scored from inside the 18 in the lower right corner to put the Ephs on top 1-0 just one minute and 12 seconds into overtime. This was just the second time the Blue Jays had faced a deficit all season, and first time since Sept. 11. The Blue Jays would not be trailing too long as they called on their leading goal scorer Breukelen Woodard to even things up with a shot from the box just 21 seconds later to pull the match back even.
Woodard was not done for the day just yet. Just over five minutes later, Woodard took a pass from freshman Megha Salvi and slotted it home in the lower left of the net to give the Jays their first lead of the afternoon. Johns Hopkins was able to stimy the Ephs attack the rest of the way as Williams did not register a single shot in the second overtime period and the Blue Jays came away with the victory, 2-1.
Woodard's two goals brought her total for the tournament to three, which ties her for third all-time in program history for goals at a single NCAA tournament. It also brings her goal total on the season to 17, which ties her for 8th all-time for goals in a single season for the Blue Jays.
Emma Huntzinger played the entirety of the 110 minutes in between the posts for Johns Hopkins, making a season high five saves to keep the Blue Jays in the match. Leyla Kanshad was valiant in goal for the Ephs making nine saves, but Williams' season came to an end at Misericordia finishing with a 10-5-3 record on the season.
Johns Hopkins is now 2-3 all-time versus Williams in the NCAA Tournament. However, the Blue Jays ended a three-game losing streak to the Ephs with the victory on Saturday.
With the win, Johns Hopkins will move on to Elite Eight to take on Misericordia, the hosts of the sectional. The Cougars are coming off a 2-0 win over Scranton in the Sweet 16 and come in boasting a 21-0-1 record this season. This game will be the only quarterfinal matchup to feature two unbeaten teams in the country.
This will be the second time the Blue Jays will face the Cougars in the NCAA Tournament. Misericordia knocked off JHU 1-0 in the second round of the 2018 NCAA tourney. All-time, Hopkins is 8-2 against the Cougars, including a seven-game win streak from 2003-2009. The match will kick off Sunday, Nov. 20 at 3 pm.