BALTIMORE, MD – The young Johns Hopkins women's soccer team went into Wednesday afternoon's Centennial Conference match up – and key regional game – against rival McDaniel looking for a signature win.
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Consider it found.
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In a matchup of the third (Johns Hopkins) and fourth (McDaniel)-ranked teams in the most recent United Soccer Coaches Region V rankings, it was the Blue Jays who controlled play throughout and bounced back from their first loss of the season with a decisive 3-0 victory at Homewood Field.
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The Blue Jays (5-1-2, 1-1 Centennial) peppered McDaniel with 10 first-half shots and finally broke through when three of the four freshmen in Hopkins' starting 11 combined for the game's opening goal in the 22
nd minute. After collecting a ball on the wing from
Carolyn Johnson, freshman
Inara Inasi got a step inside a defender and crossed the ball into the box, where classmate
Katie Derby headed it the third rookie involved in the play,
Addie Dauler. Dauler stuck Derby's header just under the crossbar for her second goal of the season.
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Johns Hopkins nearly doubled its lead late in the first half when
Irene Sanchez Burgueno sent a point-blank shot to the near post from five yards out, but McDaniel goalie
Sierra Ruehl pushed it away on a diving save to her right.
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The one goal lead held through McDaniel's best scoring chance of the game – a 10-yard strike in the 55
th minute from the Centennial's leading scorer,
Alaina Miller, that was punched away by Blue Jay goalie
Ella Kruntchev – and into the 60
th minute before the Blue Jays doubled their lead on
Gwen Rauvola's first career goal. Working near the sideline to the left of Ruehl, Rauvola side-stepped a defender and ticketed one to the near post that Ruehl was able to get a hand on, but couldn't control.
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The Blue Jays tacked on the final goal of the game in the 80
th minute on a quick strike. Playing from the back, Kruntchev sent a ball over the head of the Green Terror defense that Derby was able to collect in stride; she entered the top of the box and fired one over the head of Ruehl, who had come off her line, but was caught in the middle of the area and had no chance at Derby's offering.
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Johns Hopkins held a commanding 21-6 advantage in shots and collected four of the game's six corners. Ruehl posted eight saves for McDaniel (4-2-2, 1-1 Centennial), while Kruntchev made one, the big one on Miller while the outcome was still in the balance, to lock down her third solo shutout of the season.
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Johns Hopkins will return to action on Saturday, September 26 when the Blue Jays welcome Haverford to Homewood Field for another Centennial Conference game. The Blue Jays will honor their seniors prior to the game against the Fords.
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