Johns Hopkins vs. North Carolina: Halftime thoughts
Johns Hopkins did not leave its offense behind in Baltimore as the No. 6 Blue Jays enjoy an 8-5 advantage over No. 5 North Carolina at the Konica Minolta Big City Classic at The New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sunday.
Johns Hopkins, which entered the contest ranked 11th in Division I in scoring with an 11.1 goals-per-game average, scored the game’s first four goals with senior attackman Kyle Wharton bookending the run with a pair of goals.
But the Tar Heels (7-2) roared back courtesy of senior attackman Billy Bitter, who beat freshman defenseman Jack Reilly and scored three straight at the 8:37, 6:43 and 1:38 marks of the first quarter. After his third goal, the Blue Jays finally replaced Reilly with sophomore Tucker Durkin.
North Carolina knotted the score at five by scoring two of the first three goals of the second frame, but Johns Hopkins rallied back with three goals in a span of 39 seconds.
Sophomore midfielder John Ranagan scored from the left alley with 2:08 before halftime, then he fed sophomore attackman Zach Palmer for a one-time with 1:47 remaining, and senior attackman Chris Boland scored from point-blank range with 1:29 left.
Other notes:
*A pair of players who were questionable for the contest are active. Blue Jays sophomore midfielder John Greeley started after absorbing a hard hit and missing part of the second quarter and all of the second half of the team’s 12-11 win against then-No. 2 Virginia last Saturday. For the Tar Heels, freshman faceoff specialist R.G. Keenan was at his customary spot after he also took a hard hit in the team’s 11-6 victory over then-No. 6 Maryland last Saturday.
*Speaking of Keenan, he hasn’t fared too well against Johns Hopkins senior Matt Dolente as the Blue Jays have won 11-of-15 faceoffs in the first half. Dolente entered the game ranked second in the country in faceoff percentage (.681).
*Speaking of Keenan, he hasn’t fared too well against Johns Hopkins senior Matt Dolente as the Blue Jays have won 11-of-15 faceoffs in the first half. Dolente entered the game ranked second in the country in faceoff percentage (.681).
*Wharton leads Johns Hopkins with three goals, and Ranagan has three points on two goals and one assist. Bitter is pacing Noreth Carolina with three goals and junior midfielder Jimmy Dunster has a goal and an assist.
*Blue Jays coach Dave Pietramala should be slightly pleased as his team is winning the ground balls battle, 11-10. But Johns Hopkins has also turned the ball over seven times, while the Tar Heels have committed just two giveaways. That’s the kind of statistic that will make any head coach grind his teeth.
Categories: Halftime thoughts, Johns Hopkins
