Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD - The second-ranked Salisbury field hockey team scored three goals in the second half to defeat host Johns Hopkins in non-conference action Wednesday night at Homewood Field. The Blue Jays slip to 4-4 on the season while the Sea Gulls remain unbeaten at 8-0.

Salisbury controlled much of the play for the first 25 minutes, but six saves from junior Zoey Atabek kept the high-scoring Gulls' offense at bay. Hopkins then put the pressure on in the final 10 minutes of the half, but SU goalie Rachel Clewer turned aside all three shots and the teams went into the half scoreless.

Coming out of the half, the Sea Gulls put the pressure on right away and cashed in at the 37:36-mark. Summer Washburn dribbled into the left side of the circle and blasted a low shot inside the far post to put Salisbury ahead. Less than six minutes later, the Sea Gulls capitalized on one of their 17 corners to take a 2-0 lead. Samantha Johnson inserted the corner, sending the ball to the short side to Washburn. She collected the pass and scored on a hard shot to the near post at 43:11.

Hopkins had the chance to pull within one at 55:50 when a stroke was called. Senior Danielle Thompson took the stroke, but Clewer made the save to keep the Blue Jays scoreless. Salisbury then extended its lead to three just 68 seconds later to close out the scoring. Atabek made a pair of saves on Washburn and Casie Preisch, but the third time was the charm for the Gulls as Becca Rinaca was able to slot home the rebound off Preisch.

Atabek and the Hopkins defense held the top-ranked offense in the nation to just three goals, more than four goals below its average. Atabek finished with a career-best 17 saves and also got a defensive save from sophomore Alex Clay. Clewer made six saves and got a defensive save from Breck Sullivan to preserve the shutout.

Hopkins returns to action and Centennial Conference play on Friday, September 26 as the Blue Jays travel to Allentown, PA to take on the Muhlenberg Mules. Game time is slated for 7:00 pm.