BALTIMORE, MD – Playing at home in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, the Johns Hopkins women's soccer team used a pair of second-half goals and a smothering defensive effort to fuel a 2-0 win over St. John Fisher in the opening round of the tournament on Saturday evening at Homewood Field.  The win improves the Blue Jays' all-time record in the first round of the tournament to 17-5-1.
 
The Blue Jays (16-4-1) outshot the Cardinals 8-1 in the opening 45 minutes and drew all three corners awarded before halftime, but couldn't solve goalkeeper Isabella Ayers, who picked up saves on both Blue Jay offerings that were on frame.
 
Johns Hopkins kept the pressure up in the second half and finally broke through in the 68^th minute when senior Maria Romo-Nichols, who was dangerous throughout the game, drew a foul in the box and was awarded a penalty kick.  Romo-Nichols calmly slotted home her penalty offering to give the Blue Jays a one-goal lead.
 
That lead stood for just under 10 minutes before junior Caroline Marcus scored off a rebound to double the Blue Jay lead.  Johns Hopkins pressured down the wing and a cross found its way through the box to freshman Lena Olbrys, who fired a shot on goal that was kept away by a defender on the line, but Marcus was there to slot home what proved to be the insurance goal in the 2-0 victory.
 
Johns Hopkins picked up its 12^th shutout of the season as the Blue Jays allowed just one first-half shot over 90 minutes.  Freshman Ella Kruntchev wasn't forced to make a save in recording her eighth solo shutout of the season.
 
Johns Hopkins will host the winner of the first-round game between Stevens and Virginia Wesleyan in the second round of the tournament on Sunday, November 16 (7 pm).
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