Nov. 16, 2007

CAMBRIDGE, MA - The sixth-seeded Harvard Crimson upset third-seeded and #20 Johns Hopkins 9-7 in the first round of the Eastern Championships Friday afternoon at Blodgett Pool. The loss ended a five-match win streak for the Blue Jays over the Crimson.

The game was a slugfest between Southern Division runner-up Johns Hopkins and the Northern Division third place finisher Harvard as the contest saw four lead changes.

Hopkins jumped on top early when junior Josh Kratz (Landsale, PA/North Penn) scored just 1:18 in off a pass from sophomore Kyle Gertridge (Paolo Alto, CA/Gunn). Harvard responded with goals from Bret Voith and Spencer Livingston to take a 2-1 lead after the first. The Crimson opened the second with a goal from Livingston just 21 seconds in to make it a 3-1 game. Junior All-American Peter Davis (Riverside, CT/Greenwich) cut the deficit to just one at 5:38 with his 52nd of the season. Harvard answered with goals from Michael Byrd and Chris Ludwick to take a 5-2 lead in the half.

The Blue Jays rallied in the opening minutes of the third quarter as senior All-American Sean McCreery (Pleasant Hill, CA/ De La Salle) recorded a hat trick in just over three minutes to knot the score at 5-5. Senior Chris Hemmerle (Harleysville, PA/ Souderton) then gave Hopkins the lead when he skipped a shot into the cage to give Hopkins a 6-5 lead.

Havard came right back as Voith deflected a shot into the back of the cage tying the game again with just 1:06 in the third. The Crimson outscored the Blue Jays 3-1 in the fourth to take the game. Ludwick pushed Harvard back in front at 7:02 before back-to-back goals by Voith made it a 9-6 game. Hopkins attempted a rally but could only score at the final horn as Gertridge's shot eluded Harvard goalie Jay Connolly for the 9-7 final. In goal, Connolly made 14 saves to earn the win, while junior Chris Hutchens (Granite Bay, CA/Bellarmine Prep) stopped eight shots for the Blue Jays.

Hopkins will now face Bucknell at 5:00 pm with a berth in the fifth-place game on the line. Harvard advances to face #11 St. Francis College at 8:00 p.m. on November 17 in the semifinals.

Harvard Goals -- Bret Voith (4); Chris Ludwick (2); Spencer Livingston (2); Michael Byrd

Johns Hopkins Goals -- Sean McCreery (3); Peter Davis; Josh Kratz; Chris Hemmerle; Kyle Gertridge

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