Sept. 6, 2006

Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD - The #14 Johns Hopkins men's soccer team improved to 3-0-0 on the young season with a 4-0 shutout of St. Mary's College on Wednesday night at Homewood Field. For the second consecutive game, the Blue Jays shut out an opponent. It is the first time since October of 2005 that the Jays have notched two consecutive shutouts.

Both teams had their chances in the first half, but it took 39 minutes before one finally broke through for the Blue Jays. In the 39th minute, junior co-captain Ben McAbee (Hagerstown, MD/North Hagerstown) intercepted a Seahawks' pass. He eluded three defenders on his way to the goal and fired a shot past the outstretched fingers of St. Mary's goalie Rick Besore. It took just three more minutes for Hopkins to take a 2-0 lead. Sophomore Nicholas Gauna (Evanston, IL/Evantson), on a nearly identical play, stole the ball and broke in on goal, eluding a couple of St. Mary's defenders. He shot low to the left side of Besore, who got down and got a hand on the ball. The ball ricocheted out to the left where sophomore Malcolm Stewart (Santa Rosa, CA/Montgomery) rushed in and buried it in the back of the net.

The Blue Jays struck again in the 55th minute. Freshman Nick Kosik (Emmaus, PA/Emmaus), trapped by two St. Mary's defenders at the top of the box, dropped the ball back towards the right touchline. Gauna stepped up to the ball and ripped a shot from about 20 yards out that found the upper left corner.

Hopkins pushed out to a 4-0 lead in the 71st minute when sophomore Akash Naik (Simpsonville, SC/Hillcrest) struck for his second goal of the season. McAbee dribbled into the box and fired off a shot that was deflected down by the hand of a Seahawks' defender. Naik stepped up and tucked the loose ball past Besore.

Senior goalie Danny Coble (Fremont, CA/Bellarmine College Prep) finished with four saves in his 10th career shutout. He has not surrendered a goal in over 254 minutes of play. Besore finished with eight saves in the loss. The Blue Jays outshot the Seahawks 20-8 while corner kicks were even at two apiece.

Hopkins hits the road this weekend to participate in the Misericordia Tournament in Dallas, PA. The Blue Jays face host Misericordia on Saturday, September 9 at 1:00 pm. On Sunday, Hopkins will face Wilkes at 1:00 pm.