Johns Hopkins vs. UMBC: Halftime thoughts
After more than six hours, it appears the Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic has run out of gripping, tense dramas as No. 14 Johns Hopkins is enjoying a 9-3 advantage at halftime against UMBC at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore in the final game on Saturday.
After top-ranked Syracuse survived a 9-8 overtime contest against No. 15 Georgetown and No. 2 Virginia edged No. 13 Cornell, 11-9, the Blue Jays (4-1) scored the game’s first three goals and five of the first six to put the Retrievers in a significant hole.
Johns Hopkins has attacked UMBC’s short-stick defensive midfielders, initiating from up top and forcing slides that have opened up shooting lanes for the attackmen.
Sophomore midfielder John Ranagan leads all players with four points on two goals and two assists, and fifth-year senior attackman Chris Boland has registered two goals and one assist.
Other notes:
*Sophomore midfielders Dave Brown and Scott Hopmann and junior attackman Rob Grimm have each scored a goal, but UMBC has taken just 16 shots to the Blue Jays’ 21. Part of the problem has been the Retrievers’ shot selection, which has been suspect.
*Johns Hopkins is winning the possession battle. The Blue Jays have won 9-of-14 faceoffs and scooped up 20 ground balls to UMBC’s 14. Both teams have committed five turnovers each.
*Sophomore goalkeeper Adam Cohen has fared well so far in his first start of the season for the Retrievers. He has made six saves, which matches the number of saves Johns Hopkins sophomore Pierce Bassett has recorded. Junior Brian McCullough, who had started the first three games for UMBC, is out with a thumb injury.
Categories: Halftime thoughts, Johns Hopkins, UMBC
