This past Saturday, the Blue Jays men’s lacrosse team took on their first ever opponent from the Big Ten in a heated match.
The game came down to the wire as back-and-forth action sparked the crowd at Homewood Field. Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference, Jim Delany, was in attendance to witness the Jays’ first Big Ten game.
The Jays took on the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers University in a crucial game, and looked to turn around their season with a much-needed win. The Jays were looking for a rebound after a loss to Virginia in a tight overtime contest.
The No. 19 Hopkins lacrosse team came out firing, but Rutgers too came out strong in the first quarter of play.
After sophomores John Crawley and Cody Radziewicz tallied two quick goals for the Jays, the Scarlet Knights notched two of their own to place the game in a 2-2 tie at the end of the first quarter.
Junior Ryan Brown and senior Holden Cattoni took control after Cattoni stuck one in the back of the net and Brown netted back to back goals, making the score 5-2 halfway through the second period of play.
After Rutgers’ Jack Sikora got one back for the Scarlet Knights, Brown shot a rocket into the back of the net with time and room to put the Jays up 6-3 going into halftime, giving him a first-half hat trick.
“I knew I had to keep shooting,” Brown said. “Our team needed some momentum, and I like to be the guy that gives us the extra push.”
This goal from Brown would not be his last of the day, but it was the last that Hopkins would score for the next 20 minutes of play.
The Jays relinquished their lead as the Scarlet Knights would win the face-off battle and outshoot and outscore them substantially throughout the 3rd quarter.
This run from Rutgers would subsequently tie the game, and then put the Scarlet Knights ahead 7-6 going into the fourth quarter.
Although the Jays had their backs against a wall after this run, Rutgers would go cold compliments of Hopkins goalie Eric Schneider.
While Brown and Wells Stanwick would notch two goals to put the Blue Jays up by two goals late in the game, Schneider would save the day by making two saves on the doorstep with significant dexterity and confidence.
Schneider ended up with 11 saves on the day and only allowed Rutgers 1-3 extra man opportunities. Also crucial for the 9-7 Hopkins victory was Ryan Brown’s late goal that proved to be the dagger.
“I didn’t think too much about it,” Brown said. “I just saw an opening and put the ball in the back of the net.”
Saturday marked a big day for both Ryan Brown and Eric Schneider, as both received honors for their performances.
Brown received the highest accolades after being named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week on his four-goal performance, and goalie Eric Schneider earned Co-Specialist of the Week, sharing the honor with Maryland’s goalie Kyle Bernlohr, for posting 11 saves and two big stops to seal the deal for the Blue Jays.
This is the second time Brown has been given this award this year, and it’s the first time Schneider has been recognized for his efforts.
Brown’s performance secured his fifth hat trick of the season and the 14th of his illustrious career, while he leads the team with 28 goals and 35 points.
“Our team has to keep playing together in order to have success down the line,” Brown said. “I feel good about any way that I can help us succeed.”
This performance gave him 110 points on his career at Hopkins, and proved that he serves as an important part of the offensive fuel for this Johns Hopkins team.
Another key Jay, Wells Stanwick, extended his point-scoring streak to 25 games.
Saturday’s win brought Hopkins to 4-5 overall on the season, but 1-0 for the season and all-time in the Big Ten. Meanwhile, Rutgers fell to 4-7 for the year, including an 0-1 clip in conference play.
After coming off their first win in the Big Ten, the Jays will travel to Columbus, Ohio this Sunday to play against another Big Ten opponent, the Ohio State Buckeyes.
