W. Soccer rallies behind teammates on Senior Day

By GAB RUSSO For The News-Letter

The Hopkins women’s soccer team took on the Bryn Mawr College Owls Saturday, Oct. 24 in their 15th game of the season. The Blue Jays beat their opponent 6-0, making their overall record 11-3-1 and their Conference record 7-1-0. This win has guaranteed them a spot in the Centennial Conference Tournament.

Coming off their 5-1 win against the Dickinson College Red Devils on Wednesday, Oct. 21, the Lady Jays were excited for S e n i o r Day and looked confident as they stepped out onto the field to take on Bryn Mawr.

In the game against Dickinson, the Blue Jays dominated with early goals from senior Alaina Arthur and junior Meg Van de Loo. Dickinson managed to get a goal in at the 25th minute, breaking Hopkins impressive shutout streak. In the second half, senior Hope Lundberg scored a header, followed by two more goals by freshman Kristen Hori and junior Alexa Rangecroft.

Saturday was a special game for the Blue Jays, where they honored their six seniors before kick off. Hopkins had obvious momentum from their win Wednesday against Dickinson and came out strong, with a goal in the 14th minute from senior Issy Berkey. Berkey scored off an assist from Lundberg. The second goal came from junior Vania Ludman, who converted a pass from Van de Loo. Scoring her 14th goal of the season, Van de Loo scored at the 32nd minute off a pass from Hori.

In the second half Hopkins continued to dominate Bryn Mawr, keeping possession and converting more opportunities into goals. Senior Alaina Arthur converted the goalkeeper’s mistake on a corner kick into a fourth goal for the Blue Jays. In the 67th minute, junior Kate Hobble scored her first career goal off a pass from Van de Loo. To finish off the scoring, sophomore Michelle Santangelo scored her first career goal as well, off a cross from Hobble.

Hopkins outshot their opponent 28-1, a clear demonstration of how much the team dominated. Senior Sarah Benett made one save for the Blue Jays.

“The fact that we were able keep our momentum going the entire game and come away with a score to prove it (6-0) made senior day that much better for each of us six seniors on the team,” said Lundberg.

The six seniors, Issy Berkey, Alaina Arthur, Paula Swiercz, Hope Lundberg, Sarah Benett and Maryalice McKenna combined for a 69-14-5 overall record for the Blue Jays. They led the team to its first-ever final four last season and are looking to return this season and win it all.

“Saturday was a tough game just because it really hit home that we were seniors,” said Benett. “We are a small senior class, so we are incredibly close and have been through a lot together the last four years. We have accomplished so much with the team and really want to try and go out with a bang this final year. I think the most powerful part of Saturday was for all six of us to be on the field at the same time.

With injuries over the years, that has rarely happened so it was a really powerful moment for all of us,” she said. With this win Hopkins is now ranked second in the Conference, behind the Swarthmore College Garnet.