Box Score
GETTYSBURG, Pa. – No. 24 Johns Hopkins University clinched the top seed in the Centennial Conference women's soccer playoffs with a 2-1 victory over Gettysburg College in the Centennial Conference regular-season finale for both teams at Clark Field Saturday night.
With the victory, Johns Hopkins (14-3-1, 9-1 CC) earns the right to host the semifinals and championship of the conference tournament next weekend (Nov. 3-4). Gettysburg (12-5, 8-2 CC) clinched the No. 2 seed and will face Haverford College (12-3-2, 6-2-2 CC) in the semifinals next Saturday at a time yet to be determined.
The right to host the postseason tournament came down to a pitted battle on Clark Field. Johns Hopkins came up empty on its early offensive strikes with Gettysburg freshman goalie
Eliza Gray turning away a shot by Taylor Schulte in the seventh minute.
Gettysburg struck in short order as freshman
Melissa Seidner found an opening down the left side of the field. After drawing the attention of the defense, she pushed the ball to the middle of the field to junior
Tobi Goss. Goss touched the ball once before lifting it into the air and over Johns Hopkins goalie Meredith Maguire for her first score of the season at 10:20.
Gray maintained the one-goal lead by making two more saves to close the opening half.
Gettysburg tried to pad its lead about 20 minutes into the final frame, but senior
Suzy Englot's diving strike from the left side sailed just wide of the left post.
Johns Hopkins marched down the field and converted its first scoring opportunity as Kelly Baker kicked in a loose ball in front of the cage in the 71st minute.
Following an exchange of saves by the goalies, the Blue Jays turned in the go-ahead goal in the 81st minute. Christina Convey sent a free kick from the right baseline into the cage and Emily Nagourney headed the ball into the back of the net for her first goal of the year.
Maguire came up with one final stop on a shot by Goss in the 84th minute to preserve the victory.
Johns Hopkins finished with a 19-8 advantage in shots and an 8-2 lead in corner kicks. Gray tallied six saves, while Maguire notched two.
