Closing out the regular season in winning form, the Men's Soccer team defeated two Conference rivals last week by beating Gettysburg 2-0 on Wednesday and Franklin & Marshall 3-2 on Saturday. With the wins, the Blue Jays finished the season with an overall record of 15-2 while going 9-0 against Centennial Conference foes. Remaining unbeaten in the conference, the Jays secured home field advantage for the Conference tournament to be held Nov. 2-3.
Battling Gettysburg, the Jays got on the board early with a quick goal. In the 11th minute, senior forward Matthew Doran scored off senior forward Aerik Williams' corner kick to give the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead. The one-goal advantage held for much of the contest, until Doran scored again in the 86th minute to increase the margin to 2-0. The Blue Jays went on to win the game by that score.
Freshman goalkeeper Gary Kane, Jr. recorded four saves en route to his fifth shut out of the year. "We just wanted to stay undefeated in the conference and to focus on getting home field advantage for the tournament," says Kane.
The Jays showed the same intensity and urgency against Franklin & Marshall. Hopkins scored very early in the contest and forced their opponents to play a game of catch-up. Junior defender Adam Hack scored the Jays' first goal just over five minutes into the match. In the 40th minute, the Jays took a 2-0 lead when sophomore midfielder Chad Tarabolous supplied his first of two assists on the day, sending a cross shot to sophomore midfielder/defender Mike Poston who headed the ball into goal. Senior midfielder Michael Cordiero scored on what appeared to be a game-securing goal when he took Tarabolous' pass and scored to increase the Blue Jay lead to 3-0.
Yet Franklin & Marshall failed to let up, and in the 59th minute Scott Runyon scored unassisted to cut the lead to 3-1.
In the 82nd minute, Runyon scored again and momentum appeared to be shifting toward Franklin & Marshall. The Blue Jays held on to the slim, one goal lead, however and preserved the 3-2 victory though the final minutes of play.
Runyon's goals marked the first time all season that the Jays had allowed a goal to be scored by a Conference opponent. All of their eight earlier Centennial Conference games were shutouts.
Despite its victories against Gettysburg and Franklin & Marshall, Hopkins remained ranked No. 13 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll released this week. They are also currently ranked No. 2 in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Now with the regular season complete, the team sets its sights on winning the Conference tournament and earning an NCAA tournament bid.
By hosting the tournament, the Blue Jays give themselves a significant home-field advantage. The Jays have not lost a Conference game at Homewood Field in 29 consecutive games, dating back to 1995 when Hopkins fell victim to Haverford.
In addition, the first obstacle in Hopkins' path is a familiar one. They will play against Gettysburg for second time in less than two weeks on Friday at 5 p.m.
"I think Gettysburg will be fired up. They'll definitely come out ready to play," says Kane Jr.
If the Blue Jays defeat Gettysburg, they will next face the winner of the Western Maryland versus Muhlenberg game taking place at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The championship game will be held Saturday with the winner of that contest advancing to the NCAA tournament.
Players understand that there is little or no room for error in the tournament, when even one mistake could signal an end to the season.
"You lose, you're done now. We're not going to try to change from the regular season. We just need to bear down and focus;" says Kane, Jr.
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