This past weekend the Hopkins women’s soccer team defeated the Muhlenberg College Mules, 1-0, and has yet to lose a Centennial Conference matchup. The victory marked the fourth consecutive shutout for the Blue Jays and improved their record to 11-1 on the season.
Junior midfielder Emily Maheras has been a key factor in the team’s recent success. Prior to the Muhlenberg game, Maheras had scored the game-winner in each of the previous three games.
Recipient of the Centennial Conference’s most recent Offensive Player of the Week award, Maheras carried her hot stretch into the game against Muhlenberg. The New Jersey native scored her fourth consecutive game-winning goal to lead the Jays to victory.
In an interview with The News-Letter, Maheras discussed her offensive efforts as of late, as well as the team’s success.
The News-Letter: This four-game stretch has been the best of your career, with four consecutive game-winning goals. To what do you attribute your success?
Emily Maheras: I don’t know that they’ve been my best four games. I’m not a very stat-oriented player, but I can definitely attribute my last four goals to my teammates who contributed to the goals just as much as I did. I try to do my best whenever I’m on the field because I know that I only have another year and a half of playing, and soccer has been my greatest passion since I was little. In addition, my teammates are also my best friends, so every time I’m on the field I try to work hard for them as well.
N-L: How have the freshmen adapted to head coach Leo Weil’s system?
EM: I think that our team has done a great job integrating the freshmen. Each and every freshman has an extremely valuable role on our team and has done a great job of adding to our team chemistry.
N-L: After four straight shutouts, what can you say about the defense and the effort that it has put forth as of late?
EM: The defense has done an excellent job and has gotten even better each and every game this season. Our defensive players give 100 percent every game, and every defender has a large impact on our team’s defensive performance.
N-L: How have your game and the team dynamics changed since freshman year?
EM: Every year, our team chemistry continues to grow. One of the reasons our team has been so successful this season is because of how close we are on and off of the field. The team this year definitely has the best team chemistry out of any team I’ve played on. We have great coaches who continue to have us prepared and motivated.
N-L: Heading into the second half of Conference play, what are the keys for the team to stay atop the Centennial?
EM: The keys for the team to stay atop the Centennial Conference are to take one game at a time and to play our best against every team that we play. Our team has been working extremely hard and has great depth. I am confident that our team will be successful if everyone continues to play their best in both practices and games.
N-L: What are your personal goals and the team’s goals for the rest of the season?
EM: My personal goal is to try to get better with each game and to motivate my teammates both on and off the field. I would like to do whatever it takes to help my team be successful. Our team goal is to play confidently and put together a consistent 90 minutes for each game that we play, which will hopefully lead us to winning both the Conference and the national championship.
The Blue Jays will head to Swarthmore, Pa. on Saturday, Oct. 13 as they look to stay undefeated in Conference play. They will take on the Swarthmore College Garnet at 6 p.m.
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