The 10th-ranked Hopkins women's field hockey team proved why they are in the top 15 when they defeated Roanoke (0-4) 6-1 and extended their season record to an even better 3-0.
This was the first meeting of the two schools, and this is the second year that Hopkins has started the season at 3-0. This is the second-highest field hockey ranking the Blue Jays have had in Hopkins history and they plan on remaining a powerhouse for the remainder of the tough season.
To open the competition, junior forward Andrea Vandersall scored the first goal just 8:48 into the game. Junior forward Catie Farrow picked up the assist with Vandersall on that score, and the two added one more each in the next three minutes to make the score 3-0 just 12 minutes into the game.
Farrow made an unassisted goal and Miller scored off a put-back. Roanoke wouldn't let the Jays go too far ahead though, when the Maroons' Brittany Schrack scored on the Jays off a rebound with less than three minutes to play in the half.
They were going to do their best to make Hopkins earn every goal, and the two teams headed into the halftime break hopeful and enthusiastic for the second half.
Despite the fact that the Jays were up by two going into the first half, what some might call a nice lead, the ladies were fighting a physical battle on the field. By the end of the game, there would be 66 fouls called during the match. For offensive highlights, The Jays were outshooting the Maroons 16-3, which included a 22-3 advantage in penalty corners.? They were doing what they could to stay on top of the ball, dig out rebounds and not give Roanoke any advantage whatsoever.
Even with the high number of fouls being called and rough-housing between the nets, Hopkins would not get discouraged, and they would do their best to offensively and defensively be on target with every trick and route.
When the Jays and the Maroons re-took the field, the Hopkins upper-classmen set the tone for the second half, and started the Blue Jays off on the right foot. Farrow put the ball in the net only 50 seconds into the second half from a feed off sophomore midfielder Ariana Branchini. Later in the half, senior defender Leah Horton solidly scored off a pass from Vandersall making it an even more comfortable 5-1 Hopkins lead.
Roanoke wouldn't give up without a fight, but Miller wrapped up the scoring for the Blue Jays and sealed their fate when she scored with 10:10 left in the game to make what would be the final 6-1. The final goal by Miller now gives her 98 career points, just six points shy of Beth Cariello's all-time record of 104.
In addition to an impressive offensive day, the Jays stepped it up defensively as well. In goal, freshman Kim Stein started the game in the first half and finished it with one save. Junior goal keeper Sophia Tieu came in for the second half but was not forced to have to make a save. For the Maroons, Lauren Dukes finished with six saves in the goal.
The victory over Roanoke was an important one for the Blue Jays. They have a very strong 2008 schedule coming up. Of the 18 teams they will play in 2008, five of them were ranked in the Preseason Poll, three of which broke the top five. When Hopkins faces 17th-ranked Lynchburg on Saturday, Sept. 13, it will be the second ranked team they will play. This will be the fourth time the Lady Jays and Lynchburg will meet; the first since 2004. In the last contest, Hopkins won by a score of 2-0, but the Lynchburg Hornets hold the advantage in the series, 2-1. The match will take place in the Hornets' Stadium at Stevenson University with game time scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
