Johns Hopkins University Athletics

BALTIMORE, MD – Johns Hopkins women's soccer coach Dan Weiler trotted out a starting lineup for Tuesday night's season-opener against visiting Catholic that consisted of one senior, two juniors, two sophomores and six freshmen.  Just over 26 minutes in, it was that lone senior who provided what proved to be the game-winning goal in a 1-0 Blue Jay victory.
 
Caroline Marcus, the only field player among Johns Hopkins' starting 11 who had ever started a game for the Blue Jays prior to Tuesday night, was on the back end of a perfect build from the midfield as freshman Inara Inesi's feed to the top of the box was one-touched through by senior Lauren Fang to Marcus, who pushed forward through the box to the right of Catholic goalie Lauren Creamer and slipped her eighth career goal just inside the far post.

1H: 26:26
JHU-1, Catholic-0

Marcus polishes off the great one-touch from Fang to give the Jays the lead. #GoHop pic.twitter.com/UicHcYIt2K

— Johns Hopkins Women's Soccer (@HopkinsWSoccer) September 1, 2026

 
The Blue Jays would test Creamer six times in the first half, but three offerings went wide and she was equal to two other shots on goal, both by freshman Addi Dauler, including one that she went high to control.
 
Catholic generated its best scoring chance in the 44^th minute when Julie Faranda got inside a defender on a cross to the far post and headed one that appeared ticketed for the net, but sophomore Ella Kruntchev pushed aside Faranda's header at the post to maintain the one-goa lead.

HALF
JHU-1, Catholic-0

Jays up a goal at the half ... thanks to this late point-blank save from Ella Kruntchev. #GoHop pic.twitter.com/aXXi3lHv11

— Johns Hopkins Women's Soccer (@HopkinsWSoccer) September 2, 2026

 
Kruntchev and Creamer both collected a pair of saves in the second half to preserve the one-goal game and Catholic, although threatening in the final 30 minutes, never solved Kruntchev, who picked up the 10^th solo shutout of her career.
 
Johns Hopkins held a 13-6 advantage in shots and took three of the four corners in the game.
 
Notes: 
• The six freshmen in the starting lineup are believed to be the most-ever in Johns Hopkins history.
 
• The win was the 348^th of Weiler's career.  He ranks 18^th among active Division III coaches in victories and 10^th in winning percentage (.762).
 
Johns Hopkins will return to action on Saturday, September 5 when the Blue Jays welcome Shenandoah to Homewood Field (4 pm) for a non-conference game.
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