April 28, 2008

BALTIMORE, MD - Johns Hopkins held on for a 13-12 win over visiting Ohio State in a rain-soaked game at Homewood Field Monday afternoon. The win improves the Blue Jays record to 8-8 overall and 2-2 in the American Lacrosse Conference and secures the third seed in the upcoming ALC Tournament. The Buckeyes slip to 10-7 overall and 1-3 in the ALC and will be the fourth seed in the tournament.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair as neither team held more than a one-goal lead in the first 30 minutes. Brittney Zerhusen struck first for Ohio State, putting the visitors up 1-0 just 2:36 in. Sophomore Brett Bathras (Severna Park, MD/Severn) responded with back-to-back goals to give the Blue Jays a 2-1 lead. Amanda Shimp then tied it on a free position goal at 6:35. But sophomore Sam Schrum (Pasadena, MD/St. Mary's) answered with a free position goal of her own at 8:15 to make it a 3-2 game.

The Buckeyes capitalized on a fast break when Zerhusen fed Jessica Patane for her first of the afternoon to knot the game once again. That was the first of a three-goal spurt for Ohio State in a span of just 33 seconds the visitors took a 5-3 lead. Senior Kadie Stamper (Bel Air, MD/C. Milton Wright) put an end to the run on a quick-stick shot off a feed from senior Kirby Houck (Baltimore, MD/Garrison Forest). Forty-seven seconds later, Houck checked the ball out of OSU goalie Kristen Gilwee's stick, scooped up the loose ball and scored to tie the game at 5-5. Zerhusen briefly gave the Buckeyes a one-goal lead with 12:38 to play.

Junior Gina Maranto (Bel Air, MD/C. Milton Wright) and Schrum responded with goals as Hopkins took a 7-6 lead. Patane scored on a feed from Kristen Slahor to tie it once again with 6:10 to play, but Hopkins would have the final say of the half. Senior Lauren Schwarzmann (Sykesville, MD/Century) weaved through the defense and scored on a left-hand shot to give the Blue Jays an 8-7 lead heading into the half.

The second half was one of runs as the Blue Jays came out of the half and quickly took a two-goal lead when Houck rolled inside her defender on the crease and scored over Gilwee's left shoulder just 24 seconds in. Ten minutes later, sophomore defender Angela Hughes (Manchester, MD/North Carroll) scored on a restart, pushing the Jays lead to 10-7. Patane fueled a three-goal Buckeye run that tied the game for the seventh time with 12:20 to play in the game. Hopkins answered with a three-goal run of its own with goals from Stamper, Schrum and Houck.

Ohio State was not done yet, getting two quick goals from Zerhusen and Jayme Beard, cutting Hopkins lead down to one with 7:35 left on the clock. The Hopkins defense forced three turnovers in the final minutes as the offense killed over three minutes off the clock at the end to hold on for the win.

Houck led the Blue Jays with five points on three goals and two assists, while Schrum also tallied a hat trick. Zerhusen paced Ohio State with five goals and one assist.

Hopkins returns to action in the second American Lacrosse Conference Tournament. The #3 seed Blue Jays will face the #2 seed Vanderbilt Commodores in the second semifinal on Saturday, May 3 at 2:00 pm in Evanston, IL. Hopkins defeated Vanderbilt 12-10 in the semifinals in 2007.