Women's Soccer captures second consecutive ECAC championship

The Johns Hopkins Women's Soccer team captured their second consecutive East Coast Athletic Conference (ECAC) Mid-Atlantic Championship this past Sunday in a impressive 2-0 victory over Carnegie Mellon University. On their trip to the finals, the Lady Jays picked up a pair of 2-0 victories defeating Franklin & Marshall and top-seeded Miseracordia College.

Fourth seeded Hopkins opened up the tournament against the fifth-seeded Diplomats of Franklin and Marshall in a quarterfinal match-up. During the regular season the Blue Jays lost to the Diplomats in an away game. Thirty two minutes into the game, sophomore midfielder Annie Colabella connected with sophomore forward Aline Bernard to give the Blue Jays a 1-0 advantage. Bernard was credited with her fifth goal of the season, while Colabella recorded her third assist. Capping the scoring about thirty minutes later in the game was senior forward Kacey Foster with her eighth goal of the season. This goal gave the Lady Jays the 2-0 lead that they would ride into the semifinals. It was really a game of tough defense on both sides, but it was Hopkins who managed to put two timely goals into the back of the opposing net. The Blue Jays along with junior goalkeeper Shannon O'Malley recorded their 12th shutout of the season, tying the school record.

"They did not play as well as they did during the season." said O'Malley. "They are a grass team so we were able to beat them on turf."

As a result of the victory, Hopkins took their 13-4-3 record to Lebanon Valley ready to face top-seeded Miseracordia College.

Once again, the Lady Jays struck first when Foster capitalized on assists from Colabella and freshman midfielder Kathleen Turley. Soon thereafter, freshman midfielder Sandra Lebo slipped a pass through the Miseracordia defense to freshman forward Jen Baldwin, who proceeded to put the ball past the goalie and extend the Hopkins lead. Baldwin's goal was her 10th of the year and gave the Blue Jays the 2-0 victory. O'Malley played another stellar game in the net, making a season-high 15 saves, and recording a team record of 13 shutouts.

With a victory over Miseracordia the Blue Jays advanced to ECAC finals. In the final match the The Lady Jays found themselves pitted against third-seeded Carnegie Mellon. Once again Hopkins jumped out to an early lead, when Baldwin tallied her 11th goal of the season unassisted.

In the second half CMU began an offensive push; however, they were unable to score against an unyeilding Blue Jay defense. In the 67th minute, senior midfielder Alix Batty scored the final goal of her college career on a Baldwin assist giving Hopkins their third consecutive 2-0 victory and securing their second consecutive ECAC title. This victory also marked Coach Leo Weil's 100th victory, the Blue Jays are now 100-55-14 all time and 33-7-3 in the past two years.

It was clear throughout the tournament that the key to Hopkins' success was their brick wall of a defensive unit, which did not allow a single goal during the tournament.

O'Malley's superb goal tending made another significant contribution as she stopped Carnegie Mellon ten times on the day. Carnegie Mellon could not figure out how to find any holes in the impressive Hopkins' defense.

"We would have liked to have been in the NCAA's and I guess this is the next best thing." said O'Malley. "We got to end the season on a winning note."

The ECAC awarded Jen Baldwin the tournament MVP, as she recorded two goals and an assist, continuing the impressive play she exhibited all season long.

In regard to the honor, Baldwin noted, "The fact that there was an MVP award was a surprise to me, let alone the fact that they chose me. It really was an honor."

In a related note, the All Centennial Conference teams were announced. Two Blue Jays were named to the All Centennial Conference first team, juniors Jill Minger and Lauren Hanlon.

Hanlon led the Blue Jay's defensive unit that only allowed five goals in 10 conference matches this year.

"Lauren Hanlon was the backbone of our defense and had an amazing season." said junior Alicia Atwood.

Minger, a midfielder, was named to her second consecutive first team selection.

Baldwin, Foster, O'Malley and junior defenseman Yquem Roman were all named to the All Centennial Conference second team. Sophomore defenseman Laura Bauer earned an honorable mention.