COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College women's soccer team gave No. 5 Johns Hopkins a stern test on Saturday, but a goal midway through the first half held up as the visitors escaped with a 1-0 Centennial Conference decision on Senior Day.
The Blue Jays (11-1-4, 5-0-3) scored the game's lone goal in the 20th minute as Maggie Coulson converted a free kick from just outside the box. Though they controlled possession for most of the afternoon, Ursinus never went away and held high-powered Hopkins to that singular tally.
Cailey Sanchez and Sarah Wixted were honored before the match, and Wixted was rewarded during it with her second career start. The Bears (4-9-2, 0-8) held firm until about the midway point of the opening half, when a foul just outside the box left the Blue Jays with a promising direct free kick. Coulson cashed in, delivering a low shot around the wall and to the lower right corner of the netting, just past the dive of goalie Sabrina Doherty.
Ursinus continued to grind through a defensive struggle and took a few more chances going forward, giving the Blue Jays a scare or two during the second half. The Bears' best chance came in the 77th minute, when the ball fell into the path of Julia Ewing following a throw-in. Ewing lunged for it, but was unable to get enough power on the shot as it went harmlessly into the arms of the Hopkins keeper.
Johns Hopkins earned a 15-4 advantage in shots and had five corners to the Bears' one. Sabrina Doherty was terrific between the posts, finishing with six saves.
The Bears head to Washington College on Wednesday for a Centennial Conference contest.