COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College women's soccer team clawed back from a pair of two-goal holes in Saturday's Centennial Conference, but were unable to completely dig out, falling 3-2 on Senior Day.
Three different players scored for Johns Hopkins (9-1-2, 5-0), which kept its CC record unblemished. The Blue Jays came in 14th in the d3soccer.com Division III rankings.
Senior Kelly Rosen assisted on both goals for the Bears, who were three days removed from a 1-0 shutout of 25th-ranked Haverford.
The Bears managed just two shots in the second half, but made them both count. Sophomore Mackenzie Groff finished another long free kick from Rosen, heading in the initial volley by junior Stephanie Donahue less than 10 minutes into the half. The second of two assists on the play was Donahue's first career point, and Groff's goal was her second of the season.
Rosen's free kick came from about 43 yards out, the exact spot of her game-winning assist in Wednesday's victory over Haverford. Donahue lunged to get a foot on the ball, and her volley deflected upwards for Groff, who smartly headed home off the fingertips of the Hopkins keeper for the Bears' first goal.
After Hopkins added their third goal of the match, the Bears found the net a second time in the closing seconds, when junior Stephanie DeAngelo headed a corner kick from Rosen for her first collegiate score with just 14 ticks remaining. The Blue Jays were able to boot it long and run off the final seconds to remain undefeated in 23 all-time meetings with the Bears.
Meg Van de Loo - the CC leader in goals, assists, and points - notched the game's first score in the 11th minute, volleying in a cross from the right side, and Johns Hopkins added a second marker 15 minutes before the break for a 2-0 halftime lead. The Blue Jays peppered the net, challenging senior keeper Courtney Sullivan with eight first-half shots. Hopkins added 12 more in the second, outshooting the Bears 20-5 in the match.
Sullivan made 10 saves in the match, reaching double-digit stops for the third time this season. The keeper was one of seven seniors honored by the Bears prior to the match. Erin Farrell, Jeannie Jasinski, Katie O'Shea, Jacqueline Smiler, Lauren Verso, Rosen, and Sullivan were all recognized for their significant contributions to the program during their time in the Black and Gold. The seven-member Class of 2017 has combined for 244 starts, 40 goals, and 22 assists.
Rosen assisted on both Ursinus goals, giving her five for her career; all five have come in the past six games.
The Bears are now 4-6-1, 2-3 on the season. Ursinus returns to the pitch on Thursday, October 13 as they battle at 16th-ranked Swarthmore in a rematch of last season's CC semifinal. Match time is set for 7:00 P.M.
