Oct. 5, 2013

Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD - Sophomore Kenny DeStefano scored two goals and assisted on a third to lead host Johns Hopkins to a 3-1 win over Ursinus in Centennial Conference men's soccer action Saturday afternoon. The Blue Jays improve 4-6-1 overall and even their conference record to 2-2-0. The Bears, who entered the game tied atop the league standings, slip to 5-5-1 overall and 2-1-1 in the CC.

Senior Birin Padam initiated the play that led to Hopkins' first goal of the game in the 17th minute. Padam sent a cross-field pass, from left to right, right to the foot of sophomore Cole Gennrich. He one-timed a pass to DeStefano, who took one touch and then lofted a shot into the Bears' goalie for his first of the season. Just over 11 minutes later, junior Kotaro Mitsuhashi staked Hopkins to a two-goal lead with his third of the season. The play all started when freshman Samy Ramadane stepped in front of an Ursinus player, stealing a pass and playing the ball to Mitsuhashi. He touched the ball to DeStefano, at the top of the Bears' box, and he touched it right back. Mitsuhashi collected the pass and blew a shot past Ryan Murphy from 16 yards out in the 28th minute.

Ursinus had a pair of chances to get on the board late in the first half but could not capitalize. In the 41st minute, Hans Seri ripped a shot from about 20 yards out but freshman Matt Paris was able to control the shot. Just a minute later, Ryan Molyneaux struck a great free kick from about 35 yards out that somehow missed a pack of his own teammates and was cleared away by a Blue Jay defender.

Ursinus has another great chance in the 47th minute when Matt Cioeta blasted a shot that seemed destined to sneak inside the right post. But a diving Paris knocked the ball out of bounds. The Bears were unable to cash in on the ensuing corner. DeStefano then pushed the Blue Jays' lead to three in the 58th minute for his first career multi-goal game. Junior Simon Rojas cleared a ball out of danger, getting the ball to Ramadane near the left touchline. Ramadane beat a Bear defender and dribbled up the line before playing a long ball over the defense. DeStefano beat the defense to the ball, dribbled in to the box and then slid home his second goal of the day.

The Bears would get on the board in the 68th minute and make it a 3-1 game off a corner. Molyneaux took the corner from the left side, sending a low ball into the box near. A Blue Jay defender on the near post attempted to clear the ball, but inadvertently sent the ball just inside the post to end the shutout. Junior Matt Carey nearly made it a three-goal game once again in the 84th minute when he drew the goalie out of position and then fired what looked like a sure goal on the goal, but Chase Crawford was in the right position to boot the ball away.

Paris finished with four saves in earning the win, while Murphy made three saves in the loss. Hopkins outshot Ursinus, 17-8, while Ursinus had a 7-6 edge in corners.

Hopkins returns to action on Wednesday, October 9 as the Blue Jays host the Knights of Neumann. The non-conference contest is slated for a 7:00 pm start at Homewood Field.