Nov. 5, 2011

JHU-GW Box Score

JHU-Gannon Box Score

PRINCETON, NJ - The Johns Hopkins water polo team advanced to the semifinals of the 2011 Collegiate Water Polo Association Southern Division Championship on Saturday with wins over George Washington and Gannon. Hopkins, seeded fifth, will face host and top-seeded Princeton in the semifinals Saturday.

The third time wasn't the charm for George Washington on Friday night as the Blue Jays beat the Colonials for the first time in three meetings this season. Hopkins led 3-2 off a last-second goal to end the first quarter and carried that momentum into the second as the Blue Jays took a 9-5 lead into the half. George Washington pulled within two heading into the final stanza with a 5-3 outing in the third. But Hopkins would take control with a 4-1 final quarter to take the win 16-11.

Freshman Johnny Beal led the way for the Blue Jays with a four goals and one assist. Junior Ross Schofield had a hat trick with two helpers while juniors Kielan Crow and Alex Whittam and freshman Wes Hopkins each chipped in a pair of goals. Sophomore Stephen Kingery and Hopkins each dished out three assists as well. In the goal, freshman Danny Ovelar made 15 stops with one steal.

On Saturday morning, Hopkins rolled to a 14-3 win over Gannon to send the Blue Jays to the semifinals. The Blue Jays scored a pair of goals in the opening quarter and then exploded for six goals in the second to take an 8-1 lead at the half. Gannon slowed things down in the third and Hopkins led 10-2 after three. Hopkins closed out the match with a 4-1 quarter to take the win.

Hopkins and Schofield each punched up a hat trick to lead the Blue Jays. Sophomore Thomas de Lyon had a game-high three assists while Beal and Whittam each chipped in a pair of helpers. Ovelar turned in a 12-save performance while allowing just two goals and grabbing three steals. Classmate Scott Weigel made five saves and allowed one goal with two steals.

Hopkins and Princeton will face off at 4:15 pm in the semifinals at DeNunzio Pool. The win also assures Hopkins of a place in the CWPA Eastern Championship at Harvard University, November 18-20. This will be the Blue Jays sixth straight appearance in the Eastern Championship.