Sept. 10, 2011

JHU-Iona

JHU-Fordham

PRINCETON, NJ - The Johns Hopkins water polo team picked up a pair of wins at the first day of the Princeton Invitational to move to 5-1 on the season. Hopkins beat Iona, 13-6, in the morning before topping Fordham, 7-6, in the afternoon. Four different Blue Jays notched hat tricks on the day.

Hopkins squared off against Iona Saturday morning in the second straight meeting between the Blue Jays and the Gaels. JHU came out on top 15-8 in last week's meeting and turned up the defense on Saturday to win 13-6. Freshman Wes Hopkins and juniors Alex Whittam and Ross Schofield each netted a hat trick while freshman Danny Ovelarmade 11 saves. Hopkins led 4-2 after one quarter and then 9-5 at the break. Ovelar and the Blue Jays then held the Gaels scoreless in the third as they pushed out to an 11-5 lead. A 2-1 fourth quarter accounted for the 13-6 final. Hopkins also added four assists to his three goals for seven points in the match, while Whittam dished out three helpers and Schofield and Ovelar each added a pair. Schofield also grabbed five steals.

In the afternoon, Hopkins came out on top in a match-up that has been very tight in the past few years. In fact, the last seven meetings have all been decided by three goals or fewer. Fordham led 2-1 after one, but Hopkins outscored the rAms 3-2 in the second to send the teams into the half tied at 4-4. Fordham put together another 2-1 outing in the third, taking a 6-5 lead into the final quarter. Hopkins got a pair of goals and held Fordham scoreless to come from behind for the win. Junior Kielan Crow paced the Blue Jays with three goals and an assist and also had six steals. Hopkins, Whittam and Schofield each had a goal and sophomore Stephen Kingeryadded a pair of assists. Ovelar finished with nine saves and had three steals.

Hopkins returns to action on Sunday when the Blue Jays face Harvard (9:10 am) and 19th-ranked St. Francis (5:20 pm) on the final day of the Princeton Invitational.