GETTYSBURG, Pa – Suffering a 4-0 loss to Johns Hopkins earlier in the season, the Ursinus women's soccer team came into the match with a chip on their shoulder. Playing aggressive, the Bears hung with nationally ranked Johns Hopkins, but ultimately the Blue Jays came away with the victory topping Ursinus 2-1, Saturday evening on Clark Field at Gettysburg College.
Despite the loss Courtney Sullivan had a great night in goal, with six saves from nine shots on goal. Sullivan also made solid plays on the six corners that the Blue Jays had for the evening.
The second seeded Blue Jays came out hot in the first half, controlling much of the match with the Bears mounting few counter attacks. Ursinus could only mount two of their four shots on goal while the Blue Jays fired 13 shots with seven of them on goal.
The best chance for the Bears came in the 13th minute when a defensive breakdown for Hopkins. Valarie Bedrock drove down into the box but shot went right to the keeper for an easy save.
Both teams had great chances, but the opening goal would come in the 25th minute for Johns Hopkins. While Ursinus was pressuring, Hopkins forward, and the Centennial Conference scoring leader Hannah Kronick drove down the sideline with the defender at her side. With an effort to steal the ball, the Ursinus defender slid to displace Kronicik of possession, but the forward slipped around beating the keeper to the near post.
In the second half the Blue Jays held onto the slim lead despite the Bears pressuring, but Hopkins expanded their lead when Ana Bengoechea slipped a pass behind the defense to Amanda Masse beating the keeper to the far post to take a 2-0 lead.
Ursinus looked like they would be held scoreless for the match, until the final six minutes of the half when a deflected corner was rebounded by Katherine Bell on a looping shot over the head of the keeper for the Bears only goal.
In the final seconds of the match Ama Achaw almost broke through the defense for the equalizer but couldn't get past two Hopkins defenders.
The Bears finish their season 9-7-2 their best finish since 2010.