NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Curiously, although not uncommon, Johns Hopkins and NYU were tied for 18^th in the final regular season United Soccer Coaches Association Division III women's soccer rankings when they were released on October 29.

Fast forward three weeks, and the ranking committee may have been on to something as the two teams battled through 90 minutes of action that did little to think much separated the two sides.
 
In the end, it was the Blue Jays, who used a pair of first-half goals and a resilient defensive effort, slipping through to Sunday's NCAA Quarterfinal against host and second-ranked Christopher Newport with a 2-1 victory.  The Captains punched their Sunday ticket with a 1-0 win over Misericordia earlier in the day.
 
After early NYU pressure, it was the Blue Jays who broke through in the 18^th minute as they capitalized on a free kick from the edge of the box to grab a one-goal lead.  Graduate student Olivia Redden's laser from the right of Violet goalkeeper Riley Felsher snuck just above Felsher's outstretched arms and under the crossbar to get the Blue Jays on the board.
 
The one-goal lead held for just over five minutes before the Blue Jays doubled their lead.  Felsher's goal kick was collected by Blue Jay senior Juliana Taxter about 40 yards from the goal.  Taxter quickly transitioned and found classmate Katie Sullivan near the top of the box.  Sullivan collected Taxter's feed and worked to her left while advancing forward before unleashing a shot that froze Felsher in the middle of the goal as she picked the far post to make it 2-0.
 
NYU (12-3-6) had a golden chance to trim the deficit in half in the 43^rd minute, but Isa Badillo's offering from 20 yards out off a free kick was saved by Allyson Shick and Summer Steadman's follow up shot off the rebound went over the bar to end the scoring chances before halftime.
 
Johns Hopkins (18-2-3) came out firing in the second half and had two great looks in the 48^th minute to grab a third goal.  Working down the flank to Felsher's left, Carrie McIntire was able to get a clean look that Felsher pushed away, but couldn't control; the rebound kicked out to graduate student Olivia Piraino, who ticketed one low in the middle of the goal from 10 yards out, but Felsher went low to deny her and keep it a two-goal game.
 
With their season on the line, the Violets would tilt the field as they pressed to cut the deficit in half.  Shick turned away chances from Hope Neale in the 49^th minute and Rena Kalargiros in the 58^th minute before the Violets finally broke through in the 66^th.
 
Working to the right of Shick outside the box, Kelli Keady drove a cross into the middle of the area, where Julie Spang was able to get a head on it and redirect toward the far corner past a diving Shick to pull NYU within one.
 
Johns Hopkins had a chance to extend the lead to 3-1 seven minutes later, but Sullivan's penalty kick after a Violet foul in the box drifted just wide and Felsher denied McIntire with a stunning save on a shot that appeared ticketed for the top shelf a short time later.
 
After having a goal disallowed early in the game themselves, the Blue Jays saw the Violets have one wiped away on an offsides call in the 80^th minute.  Shick was equal to a Rena Kalagiros offering a short time later and the Blue Jay defense, although pressured down the stretch, never let the Violets get close to Shick again to seal the victory.
 
The box score – like the rankings the teams carried into the game – were, for the most part, identical.  Both sides collected 14 shots, six of which were on frame.  Shick had five big saves, while Felsher had four – all of which seemed to steal a sure goal from the Blue Jays.  The only decided statistical advantage for either team was on corners, where Johns Hopkins had all six in the game.
 
Johns Hopkins will be making its ninth appearance in the NCAA Quarterfinals and will be looking for its third trip to the final four.  Game time for Sunday's Elite Eight game against Christopher Newport is set for 1 pm.