Sept. 14, 2012

Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD - Claire McAuliffe scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner, to lift visiting Washington College past Johns Hopkins, 2-1, in both teams' Centennial Conference opener Friday night at Homewood Field. The Blue Jays slip to 3-2 in their third overtime game of the season, while the Shorewomen snap a six-game losing streak in the series to improve to 3-3 overall.

McAuliffe put the visitors on the board midway through the first half when she banged home a loose ball in the center of the circle. The goal, scored at 17:39, tied her for the team lead with three goals on the season. Senior Maggie Phillips was able to answer back for the Blue Jays with time winding down in the half. In the right place at the right time, a deflected ball came right to Phillips in the circle and she blasted a hard shot over the Washington College goalie to tie the game with 59.8 seconds remaining in the half.

Both teams had chances to go ahead in the second half and but neither team could get the go ahead goal and for the first time in 12 years, Hopkins and Washington College would need overtime to decide a winner. And it was McAuliffe that decided it just 3:20 into the extra period. Erin Lewns played a long ball to McAuliffe on a counterattack and McAuliffe was able to beat her defender and fired a shot past senior Elizabeth Peijnenburg for the winner.

Peijnenburg finished with eight saves in the loss, while Stephanie Harryman had five to go along with a defensive save from Hillary Kane. Washington College had the edge in shots (22-15) and corners (9-8). The one-goal game is typical of a series that has seen 17 one-goal games in 29 all-time meetings.

Hopkins returns to action and steps out of conference play on Sunday, September 16 as the Blue Jays host the defending national champion and top-ranked TCNJ Lions. Game time at Homewood Field is set for 12:00 pm.