Oct. 10, 2010

JHU-Redlands Box Score in PDF Format

JHU-Pomona Box Score in PDF Format

CLAREMONT, CA - The Johns Hopkins water polo team faced a tough task in the final day of the annual Claremont Convergence. The Blue Jays had to face second-ranked Redlands and top-ranked Pomona-Pitzer. Hopkins could not pull out either upset, losing both matches by a combined two goals. The Blue Jays went 2-2 at the convergence and return home at 9-9 overall.

Hopkins opened the day against a tough Redlands team. The Bulldogs pushed out to a 5-1 lead early in the third quarter before the Blue Jays rallied to force a 5-5 tie heading into the fourth quarter. Redlands outscored Hopkins 2-1 in the final stanza to hold on for the 7-6 win. Junior Mark Strickland (Houston, TX/Strake Jesuit) led the Blue Jays with two goals, while sophomore Alex Whittam (Hillsborough, CA/Sacred Heart Prep) and freshman Stephen Kingery (Moraga, CA/Campolindo) each had a goal and an assist. Kingery also had a career-high six steals for the Blue Jays.

In the final match of their West Coast trip, the Blue Jays gave the top-ranked Sagehens all they could handle. Pomona-Pitzer took a 2-1 lead after the first quarter, but Hopkins responded in the second to tie the match 5-5 at the break. Pomona came back with a 3-1 third quarter to retake the lead at 8-6. The Blue Jays got goals in the final stanza from Whittam and sophomore Kielan Crow (Portola Valley, CA/Lick-Wilmerding) but it wasn't enough as Ryan Higgins scored the Sagehens' only goal in the fourth to give Pomona a 9-8 win. Whittam, Crow and Kingery each had a pair of goals for the Blue Jays.

Hopkins returns to action on Friday, October 15 at Bucknell. The CWPA Southern Division match is slated for an 8:00 pm start.