Johns Hopkins University Athletics

GRANTHAM, PA – Sophomore Ella Kruntchev posted five saves and the 15^th-ranked Johns Hopkins women's soccer team went on the road and earned a hard-fought 0-0 tie at fifth-ranked Messiah on Wednesday night.  The Blue Jays move to 2-0-1 on the year, while the Falcons remain winless on the season at 0-1-2.  Tonight's game was the 690^th in Johns Hopkins history; the 0-0 tie is just the 13^th the Blue Jays have ever played.
 
The Falcons controlled possession for long stretches in the opening 45 minutes and collected all nine of the game's first-half shots, but couldn't solve the Blue Jay defense or Kruntchev.  Twice the Falcons found the post before halftime and two other golden chances whistled just wide of the post.
 
The young Blue Jays, with three freshmen and three other first-year starters in their starting 11, leveled the playing field a bit in the second half.  The Falcons would outshoot the Blue Jays, 6-3, after intermission and Hopkins used a pair of late saves from Kruntchev – a one-hander on the edge of the six-yard box in the 81^st minute on a Tessa Groff offering and a well-played position stop on an Addi Martin shot three minutes later as Martin tried to chip her from 16 yards out – to lock down the tie.
 
For their part, the Blue Jays' best chance of the night came in the 77^th minute when freshmen Terren Davis got a step on the defense as she entered the area, but a Messiah defender was able to get a foot on her shot and it drifted over the end line for a corner kick that Hopkins was unable to capitalize on.
 
For Kruntchev, the shutout is the second of the season and the 11^th of her career.
 
Johns Hopkins will return to action on Saturday, September 12 when the Blue Jays play at Denison (12 pm) in the first of two weekend games in Ohio.
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