By GAB RUSSO For The News-Letter
The Hopkins women’s soccer team took on Gettysburg this past Saturday in their 17th game of the season. The Blue Jays lost 2-1 after two overtimes, making their overall record 12-4-1 and their conference record 8-2-0. Coming off a 3-2 win against McDaniel College on the previous Tuesday, the Blue Jays were flying high after an overtime win.
The Blue Jays dominated against McDaniel with an early goal from junior Meg Van de Loo in the third minute assisted by freshman Kristen Hori. McDaniel answered back in the 10th minute with a shot from 50 yards out.
In the second half, McDaniel scored in the 61st minute, taking the lead, but the Blue Jays tied up the game in the 79th minute when senior Issy Berkey scored off a penalty kick.
The game went into two overtime periods, and senior Alaina Arthur scored the game-winning goal in the 108th minute off of a cross from sophomore Sophie Murphy.
Sophomore Bess Kitzmiller had one save for the Blue Jays and junior Clara Aranguren allowed one goal versus four saves. After the McDaniel win, Saturday was the last regular-season game for the Blue Jays. The Lady Jays had momentum from their win against Bryn Mawr College and came out looking to end the regular season with a win.
However, in the 14th minute, Gettysburg College scored the first goal of the game off a penalty kick. The rest of the first and most of the second half remained scoreless until Issy Berkey capitalized on a penalty kick to tie the game in the 86th minute. Regulation time ended with the score tied 1-1, and the Blue Jays found themselves in a similar situation as Tuesday’s game. In the second overtime period Gettysburg scored in the 106th minute, ending the Blue Jays’ hopes of a victory. Aranguren had three saves for the Blue Jays, and Gettysburg senior Eliza Gray had five saves.
Hopkins outshot their opponent 12-7, showing that both teams struggled to convert opportunities into goals. Both goals in regulation time were from penalty kicks, which in some cases can be very subjective calls.
“It was a tough loss coming off of a six-game winning streak. We possessed the ball really well and had several goal scoring opportunities that we just couldn’t capitalize on,” senior MaryAlice McKenna said. “However, we are in a great position and looking forward to coming out stronger than ever this upcoming weekend to win the Centennial Conference title.”
After the streak, this loss in overtime was especially tough on the Jays because the outcome was not reflective of who the better team was on the field.
“This weekend’s loss was a frustrating one. The score did not reflect the better team whatsoever. We kept possession of the ball almost 95 percent of the whole game. Our problem was that we couldn’t finish when it mattered and they could,” Berkey said.
Hopkins is still ranked second in the conference behind Swarthmore. The regular season is now over, and they look to dominate the Centennial Conference Tournament.
“Going into the Conference Tournament this upcoming weekend, we have nothing left to lose, and I think that will show that when we come out and play. We have the will to win, the passion, the commitment and the heart, so if we bring all those things out onto the field with us, we should come out victorious,” Berkey said.
On Saturday the Blue Jays will take on McDaniel for the first round of the Centennial Conference Tournament in Swarthmore, Pa.
