BALTIMORE The Johns Hopkins University Water Polo team, ranked third in the Collegiate Water Polo Association preseason Division III poll, began the 2000 season with an impressive seventh-place showing at the Navy Invitational, which was held last weekend. JHU finished the tournament with a 2-2 overall record.

On Saturday, Hopkins defeated Boston College, 8-7, after freshman goalkeeper Craig Smith (San Clemente, CA/San Clemente) denied the Eagles an opportunity to tie the match late in the contest. With 10 seconds remaining in regulation, and Hopkins leading by one goal, Smith blocked a BC four-meter penalty shot, which would have tied the game, to seal the victory for the Blue Jays.

Sophomore Ryan Ford (Almaden, CA/Leland) and freshman Geoffrey McCann (Menlo Park, CA/St. Francis) each posted three goals for Hopkins. Senior All-American Zaman Mirzadeh (Davis, CA/Davis) recorded two scores.

In other Saturday action, the Jays took on 16th-ranked Queens College in another very competitive match. The score remained tied through three periods, until the Royals managed to break the game open in the final stanza, and went on to defeat Hopkins by a 14-8 margin. Ford and Mirzadeh led the way for the Jays scoring three goals each. Freshman Daniel Herr (Encino, CA/Harvard-Westlake) posted one marker.

JHU faced No. 12 St. Francis College on Sunday, falling 15-10 to the Terriers. Mirzadeh notched four goals while Ford tallied three. Junior Mark McGory (Santa Barbara, CA/Dos Pueblos), senior tri-captain Mark McCoy (Danville, CA/San Ramon), and McCann all scored a goal.

In their final match of the weekend, the Jays recorded an 11-9 victory over Division III foe MIT, ranked seventh nationally in preseason. Ford led all scorers with five goals. Mirzadeh and McCann each had two goals, while McCoy and sophomore Paul Ramaley (Greenwich, CT/Greenwich) each had one score.

The Blue Jays next match will be at the Princeton Invitational, which runs this weekend, September 9-10.