Nov. 6, 2009

Box Score

ALLENTOWN, PA - Senior John Scheuch (Ridgewood, NJ/Delbarton School) scored the game's only goal in the 34th minute to lift third-seeded Johns Hopkins to a 1-0 win over 10th-ranked Swarthmore in the Centennial Conference Semifinals Friday afternoon at Muhlenberg. The Blue Jays improve to 14-3-2 overall, while the Garnet suffer just their second loss of the season and fall to 14-2-2.

Both teams had chances early, with things heating up in the 24th minute. Senior Ravi Gill (Morganville, NJ/Marlboro) came up with a save on a Fabian Castro shot. Hopkins then broke out in transition and freshman Taylor Woodrum (Roanoke, VA/Cave Spring) nearly stuck one, but Zachary Weimar came up with a good save to keep the game scoreless.

The Blue Jays got on the board in the 34th minute thanks to a great effort from junior Evan Kleinberg (South Orange, NJ/Columbia). He dribbled down the left touchline and then cut in towards the Swarthmore box, beating several Garnet defenders, before crossing the ball. The ball skipped through the box and came to Scheuch on the far post, who fired a low, hard shot into the goal.

Coming out of the half, Hopkins kept up the pressure, outshooting Swarthmore 11-4 in the second half, but three saves from Weimar and a hit crossbar kept the Blue Jays from finding pay dirt again.

Gill and the Hopkins defense held Swarthmore, which averaged 2.44 goals per game coming into the match, to just 10 shots and no goals. Gill finished with two saves in posting his 10th shutout of the season and 11th of his career. Weimar made four saves in the loss. It was a physical battle, indicative of the rivalry developing between the two teams, with 24 total fouls and three yellow cards.

Hopkins snaps a two-game losing streak to Swarthmore with the win. The Blue Jays and the Garnet have now played to three straight 1-0 decisions, dating back to last year's Centennial Conference title game.

Hopkins advances to its seventh Centennial Conference title game and fourth consecutive and will face the winner of the Muhlenberg-Dickinson semifinal on Saturday at 7:00 pm at Muhlenberg. The Blue Jays are seeking their eighth overall Centennial Conference title, including their fifth tournament title, and third in the last four years.