BALTIMORE, MD – In a game that featured 32 shots and 15 corners, it was a late first-half goal for 12^th-ranked Johns Hopkins and a late second-half goal for 11^th-ranked TCNJ that provided all the scoring in a 1-1 tie at Homewood Field Wednesday evening.  Johns Hopkins moves to 2-1-3 on the year and is unbeaten in five straight, while the Lions move to 5-0-1.
 
In a game fitting of the national rankings the teams carried in, it was the home-standing Blue Jays who had the better of the play early.  The Jays nearly broke through in the sixth minute as a pair of Olivia Piraino offerings from in tight were both dangerous.  The first was blocked, while the rebound was headed off the line by TCNJ defender Ava Curtis to keep the game scoreless.
 
The Blue Jay pressure paid off in the 44^th minute off a free kick from near midfield.  Olivia Redden played a perfect ball into the box that sophomore Ava Venuti headed home just 66 seconds before the half to give the Blue Jays a one-goal lead.

HALF
#12 JHU-1, #11 TCNJ-0

Ava Venuti with the header from Oliva Redden just before the half to give the Jays the lead at the break. #GoHop | #CentConf pic.twitter.com/Mz3QevkNBb

— Johns Hopkins Women's Soccer (@HopkinsWSoccer) September 19, 2024

 
After taking eight of the 13 first-half shots, the Blue Jays turned up the pressure in the second half and had several golden chances to increase the lead, but solving TCNJ goalie Ellen Williams proved difficult.  Williams posted six second-half saves, including one on a header by Katie Sullivan with 29 minutes to play and another on a diving save of a Sullivan offering to keep it a 1-0 game.
 
The Lions flipped the script for an eight-minute stretch as the clock dripped under the 15-minute mark and finally broke through in the 79^th minute.  Alyssa Alfano's service into the box found the foot of Jenny Ward and she was able to control it just long enough between two defenders to slip it into the goal and draw TCNJ even.
 
Both teams threatened late with Hopkins' best chance a Carrie McIntire shot from 12 yards that Williams handled, while Cassidy DiSaboto's rip from distance was fought off by Blue Jay goalie Tia Harrison in the 87^th minute to close the door on what is now the third consecutive tie between the two teams.
 
Johns Hopkins will return to action on Saturday, September 21 when the Blue Jays travel to Muhlenberg to take on the Mules (3 pm) in their Centennial Conference opener.