A mid-week test against unranked Villanova University proved to be no trouble for the Johns Hopkins women's lacrosse team. The Blue Jays jumped out to an early lead after a goal from freshman attacker Mary Key within the first 20 seconds. Key ultimately found the net five times during the game, as Hopkins sailed past the Wildcats by a score of 18-3.
The Blue Jays certainly didn't take the Wildcats for granted, storming out to a 7-0 lead and setting the tone for the remainder of the game. The Jays got goals from four different players, including two from sophomore attacker Natalie Cooper to take a 9-1 advantage into the half.
"Being a top ten team, we really can't afford to take anyone for granted," said Cooper. "Everyone we play against comes out hard to try and beat us."
Key agreed: "We came out hard and didn't want to take them lightly."
The Jays defense clamped down on the Wildcats, holding them to only 13 shots while forcing 25 turnovers. Sophomore goalie Lauren Riddick protected the Blue Jay net by stopping six of the eight shots she faced. The Jays' defense and offense used the Villanova game as an opportunity to prepare themselves for the tough schedule ahead.
"We focused on not playing down to their level," said senior attacker Marlena Wittelsberger. "We utilized the time to perfect our offensive and defensive sets."
The ninth-ranked Jays were handed their first loss of the season last Saturday by fourth-ranked Maryland. The Terrapins defeated the Blue Jays by a score of 14-11 on Homewood Field. Hopkins' record now stands at 11-1 after two games this past week.
Saturday the Jays entered the second half of their game trailing the Terps, 8-2. Maryland wasted little time before jumping all over the Jays, taking a 12-4 advantage with just over 22 minutes remaining. Hopkins rallied late into the game by accumulating seven goals over the final 20 minutes of the game. Additionally, the Jay's defense was able to hold Maryland's quick-strike offense to just two scores in the remainder of the game.
"I think we came out more confident in the second half knowing we could play," said senior captain Heidi Pearce. "We actually went out and attacked [Maryland]."
Wittelsberger opened up scoring in the second half for the Jays. Maryland quickly attempted to reestablish its momentum of the game by scoring two more goals over the next three minutes. Key answered back for the Jays, but Maryland was able to fight right back with two goals.
It was then that Hopkins' sophomore midfielder Kelley Putnam and junior attacker Erin Riordan together took over the Jays offense. The two amassed the final seven goals of the game for the Jays, while Maryland was only able to notch two.
Unfortunately for the Jays, the early second half deficit proved insurmountable, as Maryland inevitably took the game 14-11. The Jays ability to cut into the large lead and their play in the second half reassured them they can play with the best teams in the country.
"We realized we can play with one of the top teams in the country," said head coach Janine Tucker. "We could fight back."
The game began like most past Hopkins vs. Maryland games, as Maryland opened up a 2-0 lead in just over two minutes into the game. Although Key was able to answer with Hopkins' first goal of the game, the Terps preceded to collect six straight goals to open up an 8-1 lead. Pearce was able to score off a free position shot to end the half and take the Jays into the locker room trailing 8-2.
While the Blue Jays' dismal first half performance may have doomed their chances in the Maryland game, the team plans on learning from the experience.
"We have to go out hard in the first 10 minutes and dictate the tempo of the game," explained Riddick. "We have to come in confident and play like the top ten team we are."
During last year's 2003 season, the Hopkins women's lacrosse team was overpowered by Maryland by a score of 19-4. This year's top ten team proved to be a team at another level.
"The difference was night and day," said Tucker. "This year's team was able to compete physically and athletically. We kept ourselves in the game this year."
Despite the loss to Maryland, the Blue Jays maintained their number nine ranking in the most recent IWLCA Poll.
Hopkins will have the opportunity to face their third top-10 opponent when they travel to Raleigh-Durham on Sunday to battle the sixth-ranked Blue Devils of Duke University.
"We always come out to play Duke, and in the past couple of years we have stuck with them," said Riordan. "This year, we hope to mentally be prepared because we have always been a very physically prepared team."
The Blue Jays hosted Duke in last year's season opener. Though leading the Blue Devils by two at the half, Hopkins was ultimately defeated by a score of 11-8. Just as the Jays remained winless against Maryland, Hopkins enters the Duke game with an 0-5 overall record against the Blue Devils.
