Oct. 20, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
A LOOK BACK
For the second straight week, Johns Hopkins had just one game on its slate last week, hosting Ursinus Friday night at Homewood. It was a dreary night under the lights, but the Blue Jays got a pair of second-half goals from juniors Evan Kleinberg and Scott Bukoski and five saves from senior Ravi Gill to shutout the Bears, 2-0. Kleinberg scored what proved to be the game-winner in the 65th minute, when he slipped a shot inside the far post from five yards out to give the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead. Just 12 minutes later, Hopkins took a 2-0 lead on an insurance goal from Bukoski. Freshman Nick White flicked Gill’s goal kick to a streaking Bukoski, who got a step on his defender 25 yards from the goal and streaked into the area. He side-stepped Ursinus goalie Mike Alfredi 10 yards from the goal and slipped a shot inside the near post to close out the scoring
THE WEEK AHEAD
Hopkins takes a break from Centennial Conference action on Wednesday as the 17th-ranked York Spartans visit Homewood Field in a rematch of last year’s NCAA Second Round match. The Blue Jays then travel to Lancaster, PA to take on the Diplomats of Franklin & Marshall Saturday night.
Hopkins leads the all-time series with York, 17-4-2, but the Spartans have gotten the better of the series lately. The Blue Jays are 0-3-1 in the last four meetings with the Spartans. The two teams met twice last year at York, once in the regular season and again in the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans won the regular season match-up, 1-0. But the Blue Jays prevailed in a shootout in the NCAA Tournament to advance to the Sweet 16.
Hopkins is 36-20-4 all-time against Franklin & Marshall with the two teams battling to a scoreless draw in last year’s meeting. The series has been a tight on in recent years. In the last four meetings, the two teams have combined for a total of just six goals while all four games have been decided in overtime. The Blue Jays are 1-1-2 in their four games against the Dips.
LENDING A HAND
Juniors Chris Wilson and Kevin Hueber lead the Blue Jays in assists this season. Wilson has notched five helpers this season, a career-high. In fact, his five assists this season, doubles his career total as he entered the season with five assists in his first two seasons. Hueber ranks second on the team with four assists, also a career-high.
OWN GOALS
Johns Hopkins picked up a 2-1 overtime win at Muhlenberg on October 3 thanks to an own goal by the Mules. It is the third time this year that a Blue Jay opponent has scored an own goal. Hopkins is 3-0-0 in games when that happens.
BACK-TO-BACK
Johns Hopkins took on ninth-ranked Swarthmore on September 19 and 10th-ranked Salisbury on September 23. The Blue Jays dropped a 1-0 decision to the Garnet but rebounded with a 1-0 win over the Sea Gulls. It was the first time since the end of the 2008 season that JHU faced ranked opponents in back-to-back games and it was the first time since 2003 that the Blue Jays faced a top 10 opponent in consecutive games. In 2003, Hopkins played sixth-ranked Montclair State (W, 2-0) and third-ranked Drew (T, 0-0) in back-to-back games.
At the end of 2008, JHU faced 11th-ranked Swarthmore (Centennial Conference title game), 23rd-ranked Ithaca (NCAAs) and second-ranked York (NCAAs) - all on the road. The Blue Jays went 1-1-1 during that stretch and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16.
AFTER A LOSS
JHU suffered just its second loss of the season on September 19 at Swarthmore. Hopkins responded with a 1-0 win over 10th-ranked and previously unbeaten Salisbury. Under head coach Craig Appleby, the Blue Jays are 6-1-0 in games following a loss.
TOUGH OPENER
Johns Hopkins faced a tough task on September 19 in its Centennial Conference opener, going on the road to face then ninth-ranked and unbeaten Swarthmore. The Blue Jays fell 1-0 to the Garnet and are now 13-4-0 in Centennial Conference openers. Hopkins has played a nationally-ranked opponent in its Centennial Conference opener in four of the last five seasons and is 2-2-0 in those games.
PLATINUM ANNIVERSARY
The 2009 season marks the 75th season of men’s soccer at Johns Hopkins. The 75th anniversary is traditionally referred to as the Platinum Anniversary. The Blue Jays boast an all-time record of 580-354-82 (.611). In its history, Hopkins has claimed seven Centennial Conference titles and made 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, including three consecutive in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
IN THE POLLS
Johns Hopkins jumped up three spots in the NSCAA national poll this week, moving from 22nd up to 19th. The Blue Jays remain third in the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic poll this week. In the D3soccer.com poll, Hopkins remains in the #11 spot.
AT THE HELM
Head coach Craig Appleby returns for his second season at the helm of the Blue Jays. Appleby is now 25-7-5 (.743) in his one-plus season with the Blue Jays, including a season-opening four-game win streak in 2009. In his first season, Appleby guided Hopkins to a 13-5-5 record and the NCAA Sweet 16. His 13 wins are second only to John Haus, who guided Hopkins to a 14-3-1 record in his first season. Appleby is the only coach in Johns Hopkins and Centennial Conference men’s soccer history to guide his team to the NCAA Tournament in his first season.
MOVING UP THE RANKS
Junior Scott Bukoski has scored 12 goals on the season pushing his career total to 41 and ranking him sixth in Johns Hopkins history. In addition, he now ranks seventh in career points with 93. Bukoski is now 14th in Centennial Conference history in career goals and tied for 17th in career points. Senior Max Venker is tied for 22nd in JHU history in career points (51) and 20th in career goals (20) and career assists (11).
Senior Ravi Gill has made 49 saves and posted eight shutouts on the season. He is now tied for ninth in program history (since 1986) in career saves (58) and seventh in career shutouts (9).
OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
The Blue Jays will be led by captains senior Nate Wysk, junior Kevin Hueber and sophomore Corey Adams this season. The trio anchored the Hopkins defense in 2008 as the Blue Jays allowed just 0.78 goals per game and posted three straight shutouts in the NCAA Tournament.
CENTENNIAL PRESEASON PICKS
Hopkins was picked to finish second in the Centennial Conference in a preseason vote of the conference’s head coaches. The Blue Jays, runners-up in 2008, received four first-place votes and a total of 70 points. Defending champion Swarthmore also received four first-place votes and edged out JHU for the top spot with 72 points.
