The Basics
• Score: #18 Johns Hopkins-16, Rutgers-9
• Records: JHU (8-2, 1-0 B1G) • RU (5-6, 0-2 B1G)
• Location: Baltimore, MD • Homewood Field
• The Short Story: Senior Nicole DeMase scored five second-half goals to lead the 18^th-ranked Johns Hopkins women's lacrosse team to a 16-9 win over Rutgers in the Blue Jays' Big Ten opener Saturday afternoon.
 
How it Happened
• Hopkins jumped out to a 3-1 lead with goals from Miranda Ibello, Ellie McNulty and Aurora Cordingley by the 18:22-mark. Rutgers answered with a three-goal run, in a five-minute span, and took a 4-3 lead on Abbey Brooks' goal with 10:30 to play in the first.
• Cordingley tied the game just 39 seconds later, beating her defender with a split dodge and then tip-toeing the crease to score from in tight. Less than two minutes later, junior Maggie Schneidereith found a cutting McNulty, who scored on a sidearm shot to put the Blue Jays up 5-4. Schneidereith picked up her second straight assist when she drew a double-team and then passed to junior Lexi Souder. Souder then beat Kameron Halsall with a low shot as she was pushed to the ground.
• Tess Howland ended the Hopkins' run with a shot to the left post at the 3:30-mark. But the Blue Jays' came right back when sophomore Keegan Barger flipped the ball to McNulty and she scored on the run to stake Hopkins to a 7-5 lead. Taralyn Naslonski had the final say of the half, scoring on a bouncer from the right alley to make it a 7-6 game at the break.
• Hopkins, and DeMase in particular, came out firing to start the second half. DeMase scored three goals in just 93 seconds to push the Blue Jays' lead to 10-6 at the 25:47-mark. Barger and McNulty connected again on a flip pass and the lead was five just 40 seconds later.
• Allison Ferrara halted the run with a free position goal to make it an 11-7 game with 19:19 to go. DeMase and Naslonski then traded goals over a 12-minute span and the Blue Jays led 13-9 with six minutes on the clock. Both of DeMase's goal came in transition as the Blue Jays' ride forced the Scarlet Knights into failed clears. Hopkins closed the game with three goals in the final 2:17 to secure the win.
 
What it Means
• Hopkins improves to 5-0 all-time against Rutgers, including 3-0 in Big Ten play. The Blue Jays are 8-2 for the second time in the last three seasons.
• The Blue Jays outdrew the Scarlet Knights, 12-0, in the second half. Sophomore Shelby Harrison accounted for seven of those second-half draws and she finished with a game-high nine. That is the most draws by a Blue Jay since she had 11 against Rutgers on April 28, 2018. Harrison, Barger and McNulty combined for 17 of the Blue Jays' 19 draw wins.
• DeMase tied her career-high with five goals and six points, while McNulty matched her career-high with four goals. Senior Morgayne Rix had a career-best three caused turnovers and five ground balls.
 
Johns Hopkins Leaders
• Points: DeMase (6)
• Goals: DeMase (5)
• Assists: Cordingley (2), Schneidereith (2), Barger (2)
• Draw Controls: Harrison (9)
• Ground Balls: Rix (5)
• Caused Turnovers: Rix (3)
• Saves: Crosson (6)
 
Opponent Leaders
• Points: Pastore (4)
• Goals: Naslonski (3)
• Assists: Pastore (3)
• Draw Controls: Hartshorn (2), Budd (2), Cirino (2)
• Ground Balls: Pastore (4), Scarpello (4)
• Caused Turnovers: Scarpello (2)
• Saves: Halsall (13)
 
Up Next
• Hopkins travels to Ann Arbor to take on undefeated and 10^th-ranked Michigan on Saturday, March 30. Opening draw at U-M Lacrosse Stadium is slated for 12 pm.