Oct. 22, 2006

ERIE, PA - Junior Sean McCreery (Pleasant Hill, CA/ De La Salle) scored six goals to account for two-thirds of Johns Hopkins University's offense as the Blue Jays defeated the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 9-6 to take the 2006 Division III Eastern Championship on the campus of Penn State Behrend College.

The title game marked the eighth straight championship meeting between the Engineers and the Blue Jays as MIT won the 2000 and 2003 crowns, while JHU captured the 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005 crowns. Overall, Hopkins and MIT have now met 12 times for the Division III title as Hopkins won the 1994, 1996 and 1999 meetings and MIT picked up the 1997 showdown. The Blue Jays also won titles in 1995 and 1998 (both over Washington & Lee).

Trailing 3-2 at the end of the first period, Hopkins rallied to take the lead by halftime behind goals from junior Chris Hemmerle (Harleysville, PA/ Souderton), McCreery and sophomore Peter Davis (Greenwich, CT/Greenwich) as JHU went on a 3-0 run to take a 5-3 lead with 3:58 remaining in the first half. MIT trimmed the lead back to 5-4 by halftime as Morgan Laidlaw put in a shot with 1:10 left in the half.

Hopkins inched the lead to three goals in the opening minutes of the third period as McCreery scored a pair of goals within 18 seconds as he found the back of the cage at the 7:21 and 7:03 marks. The Engineers pulled to within 7-5 to 4:32 left in the period on a goal by Kevin Amendt, but McCreery scored back-to-back goals at 1:19 and 7:08 as Johns Hopkins jumped out to a 9-5 lead.

Facing a shortage of time, MIT attempted to rally as Palmer Rosemond scored with 5:05 left on the clock, but the Johns Hopkins defense locked down to hold on for the three goal victory.

Following the conclusion of the game, McCreery was named the Division III Player of the Year and MIT head coach Felix Mercardo was honored as the National Coach of the Year. McCreery and Davis were named to the All-Tournament First Team. Sophomore goalie Chris Hutchens (Los Altos, CA/Bellarmine Prep) was named to the Second Team.

JHU Goals: Sean McCreery (6); Chris Hemmerle (2); Peter Davis
MIT Goals: Kevin Amendt; Rob Kalaworowsky; Morgan Laidlaw; Devin Lewis; Palmer Rosemond; Mike Smith Bronstein

JHU Goalie Saves: Chris Hutchens (3); Mitch Williams (3)
MIT Goalie Saves: Nick Souza (4), Robert Truax (4)