The Johns Hopkins field hockey team suffered its second consecutive loss at home Sunday by the score of 4-3 to SUNY-Cortland. The loss came just days after the Blue Jays dropped their season opener, 2-1, to Mary Washington in double overtime. After being voted the favorites to win the conference championship by the Centennial Conference Preseason Field Hockey Coaches' Poll, the Blue Jays suddenly find themselves in an 0-2 hole early in the season. Despite the setback, the Blue Jays remain optimistic about their prospects for the conference schedule, and were content with their performances against two teams that have made it a habit of being in contention for the National Championship -- Mary Washington and Cortland.
"It was a lot to ask of the girls to start off the season with two of the toughest games of the season, but they did just that and I was very pleased with our performance," said head coach Megan Callahan.
Sunday's match between Hopkins and the SUNY-Cortland Red Dragons marked the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Hopkins was quick to draw first blood as junior forward Kristan Lione scored off a pass from junior forward Heather Oravec 18 minutes into the game. The score remained 1-0 in favor of the Blue Jays late into the first half.
The Red Dragons were able to notch two goals in the last five minutes of the half, as freshmen Jen Girard and Kelli Johnson scored back to back. The Blue Jays entered the half trailing the Red Dragons, 2-1.
Hopkins opened the second half in a promising manner, as freshman midfielder Sarah Bender scored her first career goal off an assist from Lione in the first minute of the second half. However, the tie was quickly broken by Johnson, who scored her second goal of the game for the Red Dragons five minutes into the half. Cortland struck again 15 minutes into the second half as Johnson scored her third goal to give the Red Dragons a 4-2 lead.
Hopkins rallied back with 11 minutes left in regulation as junior midfielder Meighan Roose knocked in a pass from sophomore midfielder Amy Soergel to bring the Blue Jays to within one. However, Cortland proved too much for the Jays as they fell to the Red Dragons, 4-3.
Despite being doubled up in shots (16-8), the Blue Jays were able to keep the final outcome close with a solid performance by junior goalkeeper Meredith Shifman, who racked up nine saves in goal for the Blue Jays.
"I was happy with the way the girls played," said head coach Mary Callahan. "We scored three goals against a team that was in the Final Four last year."
In spite of their slow start, there is little reason for the team to panic. After all, the team started out last season 2-5, but turned things around midway through finishing the season, finishing with a 12-9 record and a Centennial Conference championship.
The Blue Jays graduated six players from last year's NCAA tournament team, so this year's version of the Blue Jays features youth and inexperience that the Jays feel may have something to do with their early struggles.
"We have a pretty young team in terms of experience playing together, and our inexperience showed," said Callahan. "We are still getting to know each other's styles and habits. We are feeling out one another's tendencies on the field."
The new freshmen are already contributing to the team both on offense and defense. Bender had her inaugural goal in Sunday's game and midfielder Megan Maguire saw playing time in both of the Blue Jays' games.
"The fact that we have two or three freshmen who have played already and who will be seeing plenty of playing time throughout the season speaks volumes about the talent of the freshman class and the depth on this team," said Callahan.
The Blue Jays are back in action on Saturday in Lexington, Va. against Washington & Lee, a team Hopkins edged out last season, 4-3. On Sunday, Hopkins will face Lynchburg College; the game will also be at Washington & Lee. The Blue Jays have never beaten Lynchburg.
Next Wednesday, the Blue Jays return home to play the defending national champions from Salisbury College at 4:30 p.m. on Homewood Field.
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