Nov. 17, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
A LOOK BACK
Johns Hopkins went on the road last weekend for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament at Salisbury. JHU, the top seed in the regional, beat Misericordia in the first round to set up a rematch with host Salisbury in the second. The Blue Jays prevailed in a shootout to advance to the Sweet 16 for the second straight year.
Hopkins got second-half goals from junior Scott Bukoski and freshman Brandon Sumpio en route to a 2-0 win over Misercordia, champions of the Freedom Conference, in the first round Saturday. Senior goalie Ravi Gill made two saves in the shutout, his 11th of the season.
On Sunday, JHU took on host Salisbury for the second time this season. The two met on September 23, with the Blue Jays upsetting the then unbeaten Sea Gulls, 1-0, on the road. A stingy Hopkins' defense and a six-save performance from Gill held the potent Salisbury offense, which was averaging 3.74 goals per game heading into the contest, at bay for 110 minutes. With the match still tied at 0-0, Hopkins and Salisbury headed to a shootout.
Senior Max Venker, sophomore Corey Adams, freshman Nick White and junior Kevin Hueber all converted their shots, to take a 4-3 lead as Salisbury's fourth shooter stepped to the line. The shot sailed over the crossbar, setting up junior Tony Gass to take the deciding kick. Gass nailed his shot and JHU advanced on PKs for the second consecutive year.
STILL DANCING
Johns Hopkins is making its 13th overall and fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The four straight appearances are a program record. The Blue Jays are 13-12-5 all-time in the Big Dance and 10-11-5 away from Homewood.
Hopkins is making its second straight, third in the last four years and eighth overall appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16. This is the first time in program history that JHU is making back-to-back Sweet 16 trips. Hopkins advanced to the Sweet 16 last season before falling in a shootout to eventual NCAA Runner-up Stevens Tech. The Blue Jays are 3-2-2 in Sweet 16 games and 2-2-0 in the quarterfinals.
AGAINST THE FIELD
JHU will take on top-ranked and defending national champion Messiah on Saturday in the sectional semifinal. The Blue Jays and Falcons have met three times on the pitch - with all three meetings coming in the NCAA Tournament. The two last met in the Big Dance in 2006 in the sectional finals. Messiah won that meeting, 2-1, on a goal in the 83rd minute. The Falcons (20-1-0) got here with a 3-1 win over Brockport in the second round after earning a first-round bye.
Rochester and Wesleyan (CT) join JHU and Messiah in the sectional. Hopkins has never played Rochester or Wesleyan in its 75-year history.
After a first-round bye, Rochester defeated Plattsburgh State, 3-0, in the second round to advance to the Sweet 16. The Yellowjackets are ranked eighth in the NSCAA poll and sport a 13-1-1 record.
Wesleyan defeated St. Joseph's (ME), 2-0, in the first round before facing Western New England in the second. The Cardinals and the Golden Bears were tied at 1-1 after 110 minutes of action, setting up a shootout to decide the advancing team. The Cardinals got two stops from goalie Adam Purdy, to advance 5-4 in PKs. Wesleyan is ranked 11th by the NSCAA and is 12-1-5 entering this weekend.
HISTORIC SENIORS
The Johns Hopkins men's soccer senior class continues to add to its impressive resume. The Blue Jays are advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year and third time in the last four years. They are the first class in program history to accomplish that feat.
In addition, the Blue Jays have won three Centennial Conference titles in the last four years and made the NCAA Tournament in each of the last four years. The four consecutive NCAA berths and the three titles in four years are both program bests.
Also, the Hopkins' seniors are the first class in the Centennial Conference to win three titles in a four-year span since Muhlenberg won three from 1994 to 1997.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Hopkins will hit the road again this weekend in the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Jays have been the road warriors in the postseason lately. Hopkins has played its last nine postseason games (Centennial and NCAA Tournaments) and 11 of the last 13 on the road. The Blue Jays are 7-1-3 in those games.
In fact, since Hopkins first made the NCAA Tournament in 1975, the Blue Jays have played just four their 30 NCAA Tournament games at Homewood Field. JHU is 3-1-0 at home and 10-11-5 away from Homewood in the Big Dance.
TWICE AS SWEET
The Blue Jay men won't be the only Hopkins' soccer team playing in the Sweet 16 this weekend as the JHU women will host a four-team sectional at Homewood Field. It is the second straight year that both men's and women's teams are advancing to the Sweet 16. JHU is one of four schools that has both men's and women's soccer teams in the sectionals. The other three are Messiah, Hardin-Simmons and Williams.
In fact, the JHU soccer teams aren't the only ones competing at the NCAAs this week. Johns Hopkins has four teams and an individual competing in NCAA Championships this coming weekend. The football team will travel to Hampden-Sydney for the NCAA First Round on Saturday. While the women's cross country team and men's cross country senior Steve Tobochnik will be competing at the NCAAs in Cleveland, OH on Saturday.
MAKE THAT EIGHT!
Johns Hopkins won its eighth overall Centennial Conference title and third in the last four years on November 7 with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Dickinson. Hopkins shutout 10th-ranked Swarthmore in the semifinals on November 6.
With the win, Hopkins became the first three seed to win the Centennial Conference Tournament since Muhlenberg in 2005. In addition, the JHU seniors have now won the title in three of their four years, becoming the first class to do since Muhlenberg won three titles from 1994 to 1997.
CENTENNIAL TOURNEY HISTORY
JHU is one of just two schools, Muhlenberg is the other, to make all nine Centennial Conference Tournaments (began in 2001). The Blue Jays are now 10-3-3 in the tournament, have advanced to the championship game seven times and have won the title five times. The Blue Jays' five tournament titles are more than any other school in conference history. Muhlenberg ranks second with two tournament titles.
Hopkins had never been the number three seed in the tournament prior to this year. The Blue Jays are 5-1-2 in semifinal games and 5-2-0 in the championship game.
I'M HONORED
Johns Hopkins placed five players on the All-Centennial Conference teams last week. JHU's five selections include three first team picks and two repeat honorees. The Blue Jays now boast 92 All-Centennial selections, including 45 first team picks, in the 17-year history of the conference. The 45 first team nods are more than any other team in the conference.
Earning first team honors are juniors Scott Bukoski, Kevin Hueber and Evan Kleinberg. Bukoski was a unanimous selection and is making his third appearance on the first team. Hueber and Kleinberg earn all-conference honors for the first time in their career.
Senior Max Venker and sophomore Corey Adams garnered second team accolades. Venker is a first time selection, while Adams is making his second appearance on the second team.
MR. NOVEMBER
Senior Max Venker has earned the nickname "Mr. November" for his postseason heroics throughout his career. He has scored the game-winning goal in five postseason games in his four seasons.
In the 2006 Centennial Conference Tournament, Venker converted his PK in the shootout against Gettysburg in the semifinals. He then scored the golden goal in the championship game against Franklin & Marshall. The following week, Venker scored a pair of goals - including the game-winner - against Christopher Newport in the NCAA Second Round. He then had the game-winner in the Sweet 16 against Western New England.
In 2007, Venker scored the game-winner on a penalty kick in the Centennial title game against Gettsyburg. And this year, Venker again scored the game-winner on a penalty kick in the conference championship game, this time against Dickinson. He added to his postseason exploits this past weekend, converting his penalty kick in the shootout against Salisbury in the second round.
IT'S ALL ACADEMIC
On October 29, senior Ravi Gill and sophomores Corey Adams and Drew Holland were named to the CoSIDA ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Teams. Gill and Holland earned second team honors, while Adams was named to the third team.
FAMILY AFFAIR
For the second consecutive year, the NCAA Tournament is a family affair for two Blue Jays.
Sophomore defender Corey Adams' older brother, Blake, is a junior on the RPI men's soccer team. The Engineers advanced to the second round before falling to Williams, 1-0.
Senior midfielder Max Venker's younger brother, Sam, is a freshman on the Christopher Newport men's soccer team. The Captains beat Cabrini, 4-0, in the first round and advanced to the Sweet 16 via a shootout against Lynchburg. Christopher Newport will travel to York for the sectionals and will face Stevens on Saturday.
LENDING A HAND
Juniors Chris Wilson and Kevin Hueber lead the Blue Jays in assists (5) this season. Wilson's five helpers this season are a career-high and doubles his career total as he entered the season with five assists in his first two seasons. Hueber's five assists this season are also a career-high. Senior Max Venker and junior Evan Kleinberg are tied for third on the team in helpers with four apiece.
OWN GOALS
Johns Hopkins got an own goal in its 5-1 win at Washington College on October 31. It is the fourth time this year that a Blue Jay opponent has scored an own goal. Hopkins is 4-0-0 in games when that happens.
AFTER A LOSS
JHU suffered just its third loss of the season on October 28 against Gettysburg. Hopkins responded with a 5-1 win at Washington College in the regular-season finale. Under head coach Craig Appleby, the Blue Jays are 7-1-0 in games following a loss.
MOVING UP THE RANKS
Junior Scott Bukoski has scored 15 goals on the season pushing his career total to 44 and ranking him fifth in Johns Hopkins' history. In addition, he is now tied for fifth in career points (99) and he needs just one point to become just the fifth player in program history with 100 career points. Bukoski is also tied for 12th in Centennial Conference history in career goals and tied for 14th in career points. Senior Max Venker is now 17th in JHU history in career points (58), tied for 18th in career goals (22) and 15th in career assists (14).
Senior Ravi Gill has made 82 saves, posted 12 shutouts and played 2034:17 minutes in goal on the season. He ranks ninth in program history (since 1986) in career saves (91) and is tied for fifth in career shutouts (13). His 2034:17 minutes played this season are the third most by a goalie in a single-season since 1989.
LEADING THE WAY
Junior Scott Bukoski leads the Blue Jays in goals and points for the third consecutive year. He is the first player to do so since Scott Tyner from 1969-1971. Bukoski has also posted three consecutive 20+ point seasons, making him the first player to do so since Chad Tarabolous from 2001-2003.
IN THE POLLS
Johns Hopkins jumped back into the NSCAA national poll last week, climbing all the way up to the number 13 spot. It is the final poll of the regular season, with the final postseason poll scheduled to be released in December. Hopkins is second in both the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic and NCAA Regional polls. In the D3soccer.com poll, the Blue Jays jumped five spots, moving up from 15th to the number 10 spot.
FIVE IN ONE
Johns Hopkins put up five goals (including an own goal) in the win at Washington College on October 31. The five goals are the most for the Blue Jays in a single-game since a 5-0 win over Ursinus on October 12, 2007. It is also the most goals scored in a game against Washington College since a 7-0 win on October 9, 2002.
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.
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 584-355-85 (.612). In its history, Hopkins has claimed eight Centennial Conference titles and made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, including four consecutive in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
AT THE HELM
Head coach Craig Appleby returns for his second season at the helm of the Blue Jays. Appleby is now 29-8-8 (.733) in his one-plus season with the Blue Jays, including an eight-game unbeaten streak (6-0-2) from September 23 to October 24 this season. 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.
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.
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