BALTIMORE, MD – The 15^th-ranked Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse team outscored visiting Loyola 3-0 over the final 10 minutes of the game to fuel an 11-10 come-from-behind win over the Greyhounds at chilly Homewood Field Saturday afternoon. The Blue Jays improve to 3-1 on the year, while the Greyhounds slip to 0-2.
 
The win is also all-time victory number 1,000 for the Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse program.  Johns Hopkins, which first fielded a lacrosse team in 1883 and is in its 135^th season of competition, is the first lacrosse program in history reach the 1,000-victory mark and improves its all-time record to 1,000-356-15.
 
In game the Blue Jays led for just 3:13 before the fourth quarter, it was the late three-goal run that proved to be the difference.  Down 10-8 after Seth Higgins polished off a long possession for the 'Hounds with his first goal of the season at the 10:06 mark of the fourth quarter, the Blue Jays began their comeback when sophomore Ryan Evans scored his second goal of the game off a quick dodge from the wing to make it 10-9 less than a minute later.
 
Less than three minutes after Evans' strike, the Blue Jays got an extra-man goal from senior Joey Epstein after Loyola was called for interference.  That forced the eighth and final tie of the game at 10-10 with just under seven minutes remaining.  That tie lasted less than 90 seconds as sophomore defenseman Scott Smith, who was making his first career start, found himself alone at midfield after a Loyola turnover and raced into the offensive zone. With Loyola's defense slow to slide, Smith went low from 10 yards out on the run for what proved to be the game-winner.
 

4Q | 5:22
JHU-11, Loyola-10

Smith to bring the Blue Jays ahead by 1 #GoHop pic.twitter.com/YltHvFiwqg

— JHU Men's Lacrosse (@jhumenslacrosse) February 19, 2022

The Greyhounds had three possessions in the final four minutes, but the Blue Jay defense allowed just one shot and forced three turnovers, including one in the final seconds, to lock up the milestone victory.
 
The Blue Jays had jumped to a 3-2 lead just over 11 minutes into the game, but Loyola responded with a 4-1 run that bridged the first and second quarters to grab a 6-4 lead.  Joey Kamish scored two of his game-high four goals during the spree for the 'Hounds.
 
The Blue Jays pulled even at the half on late second-quarter goals from Owen McManus and Johnathan Peshsko, but Loyola scored four of the first six goals of the second half, including back to-back strikes from Kamish (at the third-quarter buzzer) and Higgins to grab the 10-8 lead.  Evans, who had scored his first career goal late in the third quarter to tie the game at 8-8, then ignited Hopkins' game-ending run with his second goal 51 seconds later.
 
What It Means
• In addition to securing all-time win number 1,000, the Blue Jays improve to 49-9 all-time against Loyola.
• Hopkins is now 33-17 all-time in the month of February.
• The Blue Jays had dropped eight straight when trailing after three quarter before today's come-from-behind win.
 
Inside the Box Score – Johns Hopkins
• Josh Kirson posted a career-high (at JHU) 14 saves for the Blue Jays.
• Epstein led the Blue Jays with two goals and three assists.
• Evans and Jakson Raposo both registered the first multi-goal games of their careers.  Coupled with the goal from Peshko, the Blue Jays got five goals from their second midfield.
• Connor DeSimone had one assist and now has 99 points in his career.
 
Inside the Box Score - Loyola
• The Greyhounds held advantages in shots (44-30) and ground balls (33-27) and were credited with 13 caused turnovers on 25 JHU turnovers in the game.
• Kamish led the Greyhounds with his career-high four goals.  Kevin Lindley (2g, 1a) and Aidan Olmstead (4a) added 3+ points on the day as well.
• Loyola led the nation in clearing percentage last season and was 20-of-21 today.
 
Up Next
Johns Hopkins will return to action on Sunday, February 27 when the Blue Jays make the trip to North Carolina to take on the Tar Heels (2 pm).