The Basics
• Score: #6 Johns Hopkins-1, #1-Messiah-1
• Records: JHU (2-0-1) • MES (1-0-1)
• Location: Baltimore, MD • Homewood Field
• The Short Story: After falling behind late in the first half, the Blue Jays largely controlled the run of play in the second half, ultimately getting an equalizing goal from Rachel Jackson in the 78th minute to earn a draw against #1 Messiah.
 
How it Happened
• 1^st Half
The first 20-plus minutes of the contest was a bit of a feeling out process on both sides with Messiah controlling the better portion of possession and outshooting JHU 3-0. After drawing a foul in the 28th minute, the Blue Jays generated their first real chance in the 29th, getting a shot on target from Katie Sullivan, but Lydia Watkins was able to punch it away for a Blue Jay corner. The corner found the head of Bonnie Shea, but it sailed high and the Falcons avoided the danger. Messiah responded right back with a chance of their own, getting a shot on net from Kenzie Spodnik in the 30th minute, but Caitlin Hendricks snuffed out the threat with her first save of the night. Alanna Craig put a ball on net in the 41st minute on a rip from outside the 18, but Watkins once again made the save. After a foul setup a Messiah free kick, Rachael Tirjan beautifully stopped a ball before the goal line, drawing contact from Laurel Buck and earning a penalty kcik with just 24 seconds remaining in the half. Tirjan took the PK and sent it bottom right, past the outstretched hand of Hendricks, who guessed right on the shot. The Falcons took a 1-0 lead into the break. 
• 2^nd Half
The second half was all Hopkins, forcing heavy strain on the Falcon defense and defensive midfield. Rachel Jackson got her first clean look in the 59th minute, clearing out space and ripping bottom left, but Watkins made a nice save to hold the lead for Messiah. About 90 seconds later, Jackson got another chance. The senior forward's initial attempt was blocked, but she collected the rebound and tried to tuck one bottom left again, but Watkins saved it. In the 73rd, Sophia Stone played a classy ball in off a free kick, finding the head of Shea, but the grad transfer was unable to redirect it on target. In the 78th minute, Jackson took a touch on a throw-in from the near corner and sent it back out beyond the box to Stone. Stone played a quick tap to Molly Reich before receiving it right back. The sophomore defender threaded a perfect through ball into the box, finding the boot of Jackson, who calmly deposited the ball into the lower left corner of the net, tying the game at 1-1. 
• Overtime
In a very tense 20 minutes, neither team was able to generate much in the way of clean looks. The Blue Jays totaled three shots in the first overtime, but couldn't put one on target. Hopkins outshot Messiah 4-1 in the second overtime, but once again didn't force Watkins to make a save. 

What it Means
• Hopkins performed admirably in its first major test of the season against the top-ranked team in Division III. The Blue Jays are now 3-12-3 all-time vs. the Falcons. Messiah had won the last two contests with Hopkins & the Falcons tying 0-0 in 2017. 
• With the draw the Jays are now 1-7-1 all-time against the top-ranked team in Division III Women's Soccer. The lone win came in 2013 at Messiah. 
 
Inside the Box Score
• Rachel Jackson put her name on the score sheet for the first time this season. The senior out of Vienna, VA has fought through multiple double teams through the early part of the season, creating chances before finally finding the net in the 78th. Jackson now has 21 career goals. Two more will put her in the top-20 in program history. 
• Hopkins out shot Messiah 20-10 & 5-2 in shots on-goal. The Jays held possession for 53 percent of the contest. 
• Johns Hopkins hasn't lost at home since the 2018 NCAA Tournament against Misericordia. The Blue Jays are now 8-0-2 at Homewood Field during that stretch.
 
Up Next
• The Blue Jays will hit the road for the first time this season, making the short trip to Catholic on Saturday at 1 p.m.