GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Johns Hopkins University struck for three goals in the opening half and went on to a 3-1 victory over Gettysburg College in Centennial Conference field hockey action at Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium on Tuesday.
 
Gettysburg (7-8, 5-4 CC) remains in the fifth position in the conference standings with its three challengers inactive until Wednesday night. The Bullets can clinch a spot in the playoffs with losses by Dickinson College, Haverford College, and Muhlenberg College or a victory this Friday against the Red Devils.
 
Johns Hopkins (12-4, 8-1 CC) jumped out of the gates with two goals in the first 6:16. Clare Kavanagh knocked in a loose ball at 3:19 and Princess Sutherland redirected a long pass by defender Francesca Cali for the Blue Jays' second tally.
 
Reigning CC Defensive Player of the Week Haley Mowery (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Northern) kept Johns Hopkins off the board with six of her eight first-half saves over the next 17 minutes. Gettysburg's only attempt on goal in the opening period by sophomore Julia Soares (Barrington, R.I./Barrington) was stopped in the 28th minute.
 
Johns Hopkins added its final tally in the 31st minute when Megan Ophel tipped in an attempt by Lucy Reider.
 
Junior Brooke Matthews (Rye, N.H./Portsmouth) maintained the deficit with her eighth defensive save of the season in the 40th minute. Following a shot that was saved by Mowery, Katie McErlean lofted the rebound high toward the top of the cage and Matthews managed to push the ball over the goal. The junior's defensive save total this season ranks second in program history.
 
Gettysburg pressed the attack in the second half, out-shooting the Blue Jays 8-5 and forcing five penalty corners. Greta Helvie, who started the second half in goal for Johns Hopkins, forced away a pair of shot attempts before mishandling a long pass in front of the cage. Junior Victoria Umbach (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) took advantage and sent the ball in for her second goal of the season at 45:38.
 
The Bullets were unable to get any closer as Helvie made four of her six second-half saves in the final nine minutes of play.
 
Johns Hopkins led in shots 17-13, while Gettysburg led in penalty corners 8-4. Mowery finished with a game-high 10 saves.
 
Gettysburg closes the regular season against Dickinson this Friday at 3:30 p.m.