Nov. 22, 2009
Box Score
CAMBRIDGE, MA - Bucknell edged Johns Hopkins, 3-2, in the fourth quarter of the third place match at the Eastern Championship Sunday to win 10-9. The 20th-ranked Blue Jays got a pair of goals each from seniors Kyle Gertridge (Palo Alto, CA/Gunn) and Peter Sauerhoff (St. Louis, MO/John Burroughs School) and junior John Barrett (Clarendon Hills, IL/Fenwicka) in the loss that ends JHU's season at 17-17. Richie Hyden, Howie Kalter and Johnny Stupp each scored a pair of goals to power Bucknell to the win.
The key to the game was man-up advantage opportunities as the Bison cashed in on five-of-12, while the Blue Jays managed a two-for-nine performance. Overall, neither team could build a lead larger than two goals for all 32 minutes of play as the teams were equal in shots, saves and goals through three periods of play. Tied 7-7 following the third period, the Bison broke through to finally push the margin to more than a single goal as Stupp scored an even strength (6:13) and Hyden juked his way through the Blue Jays' defense for a man-up score at 3:55 to make it a 9-7 game.
Hopkins attempted to rally back into the contest as freshman Alex Whittam (Hillsborough, CA/Sacred Heart Prep) connected on a scoring shot at 2:10, but Kalter halted the Blue Jays comeback hopes with another score at 1:23 to return the margin to two goals at 10-8 with the clock winding down.
However, Hopkins refused to go away as freshman Ross Schofield (Greenwich, CT/Greenwich) beat Bucknell goalie Nick Donahue at the one minute mark to return the margin to a single score at 10-9. Needing another goal to force overtime, the Blue Jays would come up empty as the Bison defense locked down in front of the cage and held Hopkins to a desperation shot with less than 10 seconds left on the game clock as the Bison held on for the victory.
In cage, junior Jeremy Selbst (Old Greenwich, CT/Greenwich) stopped seven shots, while Donahue blocked away six scoring tries to pick up the win. Hopkins' fourth place finish is a program best. The Blue Jays had never placed higher than sixth at the Eastern Championships prior to 2009.
