Postscript from Albany at Johns Hopkins
Only half of the No. 12 Blue Jays’ goals were assisted, according to the official score sheet. But three other goals were products of passes that got the players credited with goals in scoring position, and that was one reason Johns Hopkins beat No. 17 Albany, 14-9, and snapped a three-game losing streak.
"Offensively, I thought we played unselfishly for the most part," coach Dave Pietramala said. "We moved the ball, and we got good shots. ... I think we generated shots, and I thought they were quality shots."
Three goals came from long distance and should have been stopped by Great Danes freshman goalkeeper John Carroll. But the other scores were the results of sharp, quick passes that caught the Albany defensemen out of position.
"A lot of motion and just movement," said junior attackman Chris Boland, whose five goals were one shy of tying a career high set in a 16-15 loss to No. 1 Virginia on March 21. "When we move the ball and we’re moving to the right spots, our offense clicks pretty well."
Other notes:
* A week after officials appeared to take a goal away from Maryland in a 10-9 seven-overtime loss to the Cavaliers, a similar snafu occurred yesterday. With about 5:45 left in the first quarter, a blast from junior midfielder Michael Kimmel (Loyola) from the left wing hit the net inside the left post, crossed to touch the net inside the right post, and caromed to the sidelines in front of the Great Danes bench. The play happened so quickly that the officiating crew didn’t blow the whistle and play continued. Pietramala wasn’t about to argue. "I don’t know," he said. "I’d have to watch it and see. I thought it went in, but I make mistakes as a coach, and they make mistakes as officials."
* Matt Dolente and Michael Powers combined to win 17 of 26 faceoffs for the Blue Jays. Dolente has been dealing with a hand injury, while Powers returned for the first time last week since injuring his right arm on March 7. While Pietramala was pleased with the duo’s effort, he was not happy that Johns Hopkins collected just 28 groundballs to Albany’s 32. "What I’m disappointed with is we didn’t win the groundball battle," he said. "I’m really disappointed in that, and I hope you’ll put that in the paper." (Does a blog count?)
* The Great Danes did not have Corey Small, but coach Scott Marr said the team had held out hope that the senior attackman could play against the Blue Jays. Marr said Small has an open cut in his leg since undergoing leg surgery last month, but there’s a chance that Small could return for next Saturday’s contest against America East rival UMBC. "We’re very optimistic at this point," Marr said. "He was questionable today, but we really didn’t want to push it because with an open wound infection-wise, we didn’t want to take a risk to making that worse."
