The Johns Hopkins Field Hockey team had a very successful last week which consisted of two games, emphasizing the point that the Blue Jays do not roll over. The win-filled week contrasted the early parts of this season as they played some clutch games and came out winning as they finished 2-0 for the week.
Their game on Tuesday against Western Maryland College which also happens to be a Centennial Conference game had been postponed due to weather. Nonetheless, they showed that they were pulling together and won some close games.
Their first win of the past week came against the College of Notre Dame. Senior Ashley Robbins scored the one and only goal for either team part way through the first half.
This was a memorable goal as it made her the leading scorer for Hopkins with six this year, and also tied her for second place in Blue Jay history with 36 career goals.
The 1-0 lead was maintained by the Blue Jays as they held the College of Notre Dame to only 10 shots through the entire game, and grasped the shutout victory. The Gators have had a history of difficulty against the Blue Jays, as they have lost 19 of 20 encounters for all time.
Their second game came on Saturday versus Swarthmore College, who happens to be in the Centennial Conference, making the game even more important. Hopkins being 2-3 and thus below .500 they needed the win to enter the tournament.
"It was a do-or-die game for us." explains sophomore Jenny Farelly, "to get into the Centennial Conference Tournament we would have to win this game."
The Blue Jays looked to get on the board fast and first. They did only 50 seconds into the game with an assist and goal by freshmen Kate Mandel and Anna Rehwinkel. Rehwinkel's first career goal gave Hopkins the 1-0 edge, but this was only until Swarthmore scored a goal with a little over 14 minutes left in the first half.
The game tied, the Blue Jays responded the only way they could, by scoring and then holding their 2-1 lead to the end of the game. The goal came at the hands of Kelly Hewitt, and helped lift Hopkins to its first two game win streak this season.
The Lady Jays hoped to extend this streak on Tuesday night, but with the game postponed, they will have to wait.
The team's overall record stands at 5-8, but their Centennial Conference record is 3-3, which happens to be good enough, at the moment, anyway, to putting them in fourth place standing.
With four spots available from the conference, if they can maintain their current standing, or even improve the Jays will make it into the tournament.
The Blue Jays will face some must-wins, and if they hope to have a postseason, their current hunger and intensity might be enough to get them there.
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