March 13, 2007

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Sneak Peak: #12 Johns Hopkins hits the road for the second of three consecutive road games Wednesday. The Blue Jays travel down I-95 to face #10 Georgetown Hoyas. The Blue Jays have won two straight and are coming off a 15-14 win at Ohio State. The Hoyas have also won two straight and are coming off a 9-8 overtime win over Syracuse.

A Little Reminder: Junior middie Kirby Houck scored on a free-position shot with just 12.8 seconds on the clock to lift #11 Johns Hopkins to a 15-14 win over Ohio State Sunday afternoon. The win was the first for the Blue Jays in Columbus and the second in a row over the Buckeyes.

The game was a back-and-forth affair, beginning with Keri Yourick's goal that gave the Buckeyes the early lead at 9:36. Hopkins answered with a four-goal run in the span of just 68 seconds. Freshman Sam Schrum started the run, with senior Steph Janice, Houck and fifth-year senior Sarah Walsh all scoring in the run.

For the remainder of the game, Hopkins biggest lead was just four goals as the Blue Jays were unable to pull away from the Buckeyes. Hopkins led until Bethany Carey scored with 49.8 on the clock to tie the game at 14-14.

Off the draw, an Ohio State player lost the ball out of bounds and the Blue Jays gained possession in their offensive zone. Hopkins lost the ball out of bounds, but on the restart, Walsh checked the ball out of Kendall Gysin's stick and scooped up the loose ball, setting up Houck's late-game heroics. Ohio State controlled the final draw and Amanda Shimp was awarded a free position shot with just 0.9 on the clock. Her shot went low and ricocheted off the post as time expired.

Schrum and Janice led the Jays with four goals apiece, while Walsh (3), Key (2) and Houck (2) all had multi-goal games. Sophomore goalie Amelia Harris finished with 10 saves for Hopkins in the win.

Against the Hoyas: Johns Hopkins and Georgetown have met 10 times in a series that dates back to 1977. The Blue Jays lead the series 6-4 and have won three of the last five meetings. In last season's meeting, Hopkins jumped on Georgetown early, storming out to a 4-0 lead. The Hoyas called a timeout and coming out of the break, went on a 7-0 run that stretched into the second half. Hopkins battled back, making it a one-goal game at 8-7 with over six minutes to play, but the Blue Jays could not find the equalizer.

Leading the way against the Hoyas, is senior attacker Mary Key with eight goals and one assist. Fifth-year senior attacker Sarah Walsh has six points (3g, 3a) and junior middie Kadie Stamper has three goals in the series.

I'm Honored: Freshman attacker Sam Schrum was honored on Monday for her performance in Hopkins' wins over Mount St. Mary's and Ohio State. She was named the American Lacrosse Conference Player of the Week. Schrum had a seven-point (6g, 1a) week for the Blue Jays, including a five point effort in a road win at Ohio State in Hopkins' ALC opener. In addition to her seven points, she had six ground balls and six draw controls, with two caused turnovers and went 2-of-4 on her free position shots. In the win at OSU, she keyed the offense, with five points while controlling five draws for the Blue Jays.

In addition, senior attacker Mary Key has been named to the womenslacrosse.com Honor Roll twice so far this season.

Conference Openers: Hopkins is a member of the American Lacrosse Conference, now in its sixth season. The Blue Jays opened their 2007 ALC campaign with a 15-14 win at Ohio State Sunday. Hopkins is now 4-2 in league openers, having won their last four. In addition, Hopkins is 3-1 in ALC openers when playing at Homewood Field.

Against the ALC: The Blue Jays are 1-0 in the ALC this season. Hopkins is 19-11 (.621) in ALC games since the league's inception in 2001. In 2007, the ALC will hold its first ever conference tournament. It is scheduled for May 3-6 at Homewood Field on the campus of Johns Hopkins.

Marching On: The Blue Jays have had much success in the month of March, especially under head coach Janine Tucker. Hopkins is 98-31-1 (.757) all-time in games played in March. Under coach Tucker, the Blue Jays are 70-19 (.786) in games played in March. Hopkins had won 11 straight games in March prior to the overtime loss at Princeton on March 3.

Home Opener: Hopkins opened the 2007 campaign at home on February 21 against George Washington. The Blue Jays defeated the Colonials 13-7 for their fourth consecutive home opener win. Hopkins is now 10-4 under head coach Janine Tucker in home openers.

Top-Freshmen: Hopkins entered the season with one of the most highly touted recruiting classes in the nation. Inside Lacrosse ranked the Jays Class of 2010, fifth. Freshmen attackmen Brett Bathras and Sam Schrum and defender Angela Hughes were all named "Players to Watch". In addition, freshman middie Kim Dubansky was named a "Blue Chip" recruit.

The freshmen class has made an immediate impact for the Blue Jays. Schrum ranks second on the team in goals, assists, and points and is third in caused turnovers. She leads the team in ground balls and draw controls.

All-Time Record: Hopkins, now in its 32nd season of women's lacrosse, enters today's game with an overall record of 310-180-4 (.632). When it defeated American 15-7 on March 26, 2006, Hopkins became just the seventh Division I school to win 300 or more games. Hopkins was the 15th school in any division to reach the 300-win mark. The Blue Jays made the move from Division III to Division I in 1999. Hopkins is 93-45 (.674) in eight-plus Division I seasons.

Home Sweet Home: The Blue Jays have enjoyed much success at Homewood Field, especially of late. Hopkins is 3-0 at home this seaon and is 26-6 (.813) dating back to April 25, 2003. Since moving to Division I in 1999, the Jays are 55-21 (.724) at home. In 31-plus seasons at Homewood, Hopkins posts a record of 174-76-2 (.694).

Preseason Pickings I: The Blue Jays were picked second in the 2007 ALC Preseason Poll as voted on by the league's coaches. Hopkins just edged out Penn State. Defending ALC and NCAA Champion Northwestern was picked #1.

Preseason Pickings II: Senior Mary Key and juniors Sarah Gallion, Lauren Schwarzmann and Kadie Stamper were named to the 2007 ALC Preseason Team as decided on by the league's coaches.

Inside Lacrosse also named two Blue Jays to its preseason All-America Team. Key was named first team, while Stamper was named to the second team.

Record-Breaker: Senior Mary Key has left her mark all over the Johns Hopkins Women's Lacrosse Record Book, but she's not done yet. She entered the 2007 season with 14 school records to her name. In the win over Mount St. Mary's on March 6, Key added yet another record to her resume. With eight points on five goals and three assists, she broke the school's all-time career points record with 291. Jenn Ward had held the record since 1996, with 290 career points.

Key is on pace to break three more career records this season. With 185 goals, she is 13 shy of tying the school Division I career record (198) and 24 shy of tying the all-time career record (209). She is also just nine assists shy of tying the all-time assists record (120).

Poll Position: Hopkins opened the season ranked #10 in the IWLCA and Inside Lacrosse Media preseason polls. The Blue Jays were ninth in the Lacrosse Magazine preseason poll. Hopkins dropped to #11 in the polls in the second week of the season. The Blue Jays remain at #11 in the rankings for the third straight week.

Eight of Hopkins opponents opened the season ranked in the top-20 of the IWLCA preseason poll, including five who were ranked in the top-10.

500 and Counting: Johns Hopkins is just six games shy of the 500th in program history. Only 12 programs in NCAA history (Division I and III) have played 500 or more games. Atleast eight programs, including Hopkins, will hit the 500-game mark this season.

Tewaaraton Trophy Nominee: Hopkins senior attacker Mary Key has been named to the 2007 Tewaaraton Preseason Watch List. A nominee the past two seasons, Key led the nation in scoring in 2005 and 2006. The list will be voted upon by coaches and narrowed as the season progresses, ultimately reaching a final list of 5 women who constitute the award's finalists.

150 and Counting: The Blue Jays win over Oregon on March 18, 2006 was the 150th career win for head coach Janine Tucker. Coach Tucker is just the 12th coach all-time to reach the 150-win plateau and just the sixth active coach with 150 wins. Tucker now posts a record of 161-61 (.725). Navy head coach Cindy Timchal is the all-time wins leader with 336.

Streaking: Senior Mary Key enters today's game with a 55-game point streak, the longest in Hopkins Division I history. The streak dates back to her first game in a Blue Jays uniform - February 29, 2004.

Five other Blue Jays enter today's game with a point streak - freshman Sam Schrum, seniors Steph Janice, Alex Nolan and Sarah Walsh and junior Lauren Schwarzmann. Schrum is on a five-game point streak, Janice and Nolan are each on a three-game point streak and Walsh and Schwarzmann have each have a point in the last two games.

A Key to Our Success: Senior Mary Key has been instrumental in the Blue Jays success since she stepped foot on the Homewood campus. She has tallied a point in every game of her career and scored in all but two of those games. With 296 career points in just 55 games, Key is averaging 5.38 points per game for her career. So far this season, Key has tallied 34 points in just five games (6.80 ppg).

Hopkins is 39-14 when Key scores a goal. When she scores three or more goals, the Blue Jays are almost unbeatable at 31-5.

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