This is an exciting time for Hopkins in the sport of women’s soccer. The nationally ranked Lady Jays won their final regular season game of the year against Franklin & Marshall (F&M) this past Saturday afternoon in a shutout 3-0. The women will continue to the 2013 Centennial Conference Playoffs next weekend with a record of 16-1-1 in the season and a 9-0-1 record in the Centennial Conference.
The game started off slow with no goals until the 32nd minute. Junior Sydney Teng got the scoring started by receiving a pass from junior Hannah Kronick. Teng was able to beat the F&M goalie and score her fifth goal of the season.
“To finish an undefeated conference season is definitely a good accomplishment for us to have under our belts as we head into the playoffs,” Kronick said. “I think we are confident about the post season but know that there is still work to be done.”
In the 69th minute, senior Pamela Vranis scored after forcing a turnover by the F&M defense. Finishing up the scoring for Hopkins, senior Kelly Baker had a shot from eight yards out that was no match for the F&M goalie in the 82nd minute.
Vranis commented on the momentum from the big victory. “We are very excited about finishing up the season on a high note and clinching conference hosting,” she said. “The energy coming from everyone on the team, on and off the field, is incredible and we are hoping to keep that energy going into the intense and exciting playoff games coming up.”
On the Hopkins defensive side, senior goalkeeper Kelly Leddy made only one save on the only shot from F&M in the game. It was the Hopkins defense including freshman Adrienne Johnson, sophomore Hope Lundberg, junior Emily Nagourney and senior Kylie Fuller that prevented F&M from even getting near the goal.
“As far as defense goes, we’ve been doing well in our last few games keeping the other teams from gaining many opportunities to shoot,” Johnson said. “However we aren’t finished yet. We must stay focused for the conference tournament coming up this weekend. The other five teams will come out strong so we have to make sure we play our best game.”
Leddy also remarked on the strength of the defense throughout this season. “Nothing really says it better than to say straight out; we have the strongest defense in the Centennial Conference,” she said. “In just conference games alone, we have given up very few shots, of which only about half of them were even on goal. With a group as solid as ours, the opposing offense finds themselves under constant pressure, with very few quality goal scoring opportunities throughout the game.”
Nagourney commented on the team’s goals for the postseason. “With the regular season coming to an end, our goal right now is to win the conference tournament this weekend,” she said. “By keeping our momentum rolling and winning the conference, we will keep our national ranking high and we can secure a bid in the NCAA tournament, hopefully being able to host the first few rounds.”
Leddy described the team’s determination to prove themselves this year.
“After struggling last year through some conference games and losing in the conference final, we were ready to prove to everyone this year that last year was just a ‘hiccup’ and we were the best team in the Centennial Conference,” Leddy said. “Our 9-0-1 record certainly proved that with all of our wins being by a margin of three goals or more. Over the past two and a half months, we have worked hard each and every day to be the team we know we can be.”
According to Leddy, the team concentrates on small aspects that have hindered their success in the past and focuses on each individual game rather than on the future. “At this point, there is not one big thing we focus on at practices. Instead, it’s just the small things that have troubled us at different points of the season,” she said. “Ultimately, our biggest focus as a team is to approach each game as if it will be the toughest game we have yet to play. We can’t look ahead, but instead take each game one at a time. Every other team has the same opportunity at this point: to win the national championship. In the end, it will come down to who wants it more, and that will be the team that comes out on top. Hopefully, it will be us.”
Hopkins will return to Homewood Field to host the 2013 Centennial Conference Playoffs. The Lady Jays will play on Friday, Nov. 8, as they prepare to face off against the winner of McDaniel and Muhlenberg.
