After struggling at the beginning of the season, the Hopkins women’s soccer team has been on a tear. The Lady Jays extended their impressive winning streak to six after dominating the Muhlenberg Mules early and often en route to a 3-0 triumph. The Lady Jays earned their second conference victory to remain undefeated in conference play. Additionally, the team has won 33 of their last 35 Centennial Conference matchups and improved their overall season record to 8-2-0.
Head Coach Leo Weil admitted that the team struggled early on in the season, but is optimistic about the prospects of a playoff run.
“We had a tough early season schedule, complicated by only having three days [of] practice with our total team when we returned from a preseason European trip,” Weil syaid. “Both of those games we lost and we should have won. We basically beat ourselves. Since then, we’ve been on a nice roll, six straight wins, one goal conceded. As long as we continue to win and keep things under our control, we’re going to be in good shape going into playoff time.”
This week’s win involved some strong defensive teamwork that limited the visiting Mules to an underwhelming total of four shots, one of which was saved by starting goalkeeper Sarah Benett securing her fourth shutout of the season and fifth win in just as many starts. The junior keeper has yet to allow a goal this season and commends her teammates in their efforts.
“The shutouts have been due to the communication with the defense and a lot of hard work,” Benett said. “We have each other’s back and have the same goal of making sure the ball doesn’t go in the net.”
The hard work certainly paid off this week as the Jays suppressed the opposing offense without allowing them to establish any kind of rhythm. A continued balance of offensive firepower and defensive patience look to be the key ingredients for the Jays moving forward.
On the offensive side of the pitch, first-team All-American and Hopkins all-time leading goal scorer senior Hannah Kronick got things started early in the 26th minute, placing a perfect goal in the bottom left corner past Muhlenberg goalkeeper Rachel Mizrahi. Sophomore defender Adrienne Johnson delivered a perfect long ball assist for Kronick to finish giving Hopkins the early lead. The goal was Kronick’s eighth of the year while Johnson tallied her second assist. Kronick continues to extend her record of most goals scored in Centennial Conference play history.
Just five minutes later, senior Alyssa Conti came off the bench to extend the lead with a beautifully placed shot passed a diving Mizrahi into the bottom left corner. The assist came from freshman forward Bailey Monaco, who was threatening to score within the six-yard box before finding Conti on the opposite side of the field. The goal was Conti’s second of the season.
Conti, who missed all of last year due to an injury, has already begun to reflect on the season thus far this year.
“It feels amazing to be back and I cannot thank my teammates enough for all their encouragement and help in the process,” she said. The senior midfielder has come back to contribute immensely so far, putting 25 shots on net, including the goal that put Hopkins up by two just 30 minutes into the game.
The rest of the game was defined by constant pressure on the visitor’s side of the field. The Lady Jays took 23 shots keeping Mizrahi plenty busy. The freshman goalkeeper for Muhlenberg tried to keep her team competitive with an astounding career-high, 10-save performance, but the Hopkins offense proved too much for the Mules’ defense to handle.
After holding off the attack for the rest of the first half and most of the second half, Mizrahi watched another goal get by as junior Alaina Arthur put the game away with the third Hopkins goal of the game in the 85th minute. Junior Paula Swiercz recorded the assist from the top of the 18-yard box, allowing Arthur to launch one into the top right corner for her second goal of the year. From there, the Jays were able to kill the clock and enjoy a well-earned victory. The recent hot streak has the entire team excited for the prospect of going deep into the playoffs.
Regarding the winning streak, Benett is optimistic that the victories will keep coming.
“The drive to play our best as a team is putting us in a good place as we continue conference play,” she said confidently.
Conti took the optimism another step forward.
“I think we are learning from our mistakes and are on our way to a national championship,” she said. “We have the ability to win it all this year, so it is up to us to take advantage of this opportunity.”
Hopkins fans certainly hope the drive continues as the team looks forward to its upcoming action at Swarthmore today. The game is set to start at 7 p.m.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The News-Letter.