WESTMINSTER, Md. - The Green Terror hosted Johns Hopkins on the hill for a Centennial Conference showdown. In a physical game that saw six cards handed out, Hopkins scored late in the second half to edge McDaniel.
Men's Soccer now sits at 3-2-4 (1-2-0 CC) on the season.
Johns Hopkins controlled possession throughout the first half, creating multiple opportunities in the box against the McDaniel defense. The back line led by
Matt Bowes,
Jared Edge,
Tyler Reid, and
Noah Rodriguez were always in position to recover and keep the Blue Jays off the board. When Hopkins did get behind the defense, graduate goal keeper
Austin Heid came up with clutch saves all afternoon including back-to-back saves late in the half where it was just him and the offensive player in front of the goal.
Heid totaled five saves on the day and now has 80 total saves in his career on the hill.
In the 35th minute, McDaniel earned a set piece and junior midfielder
Brandon Morse chipped it into the box.
Matt Bowes got behind the defense and ripped a shot that went just left of the near post. Heading into the break, the score remained 0-0.
As the second half began, Johns Hopkins kept up the pressure, but McDaniel started to find a rhythm on offense. After a first period in which the Blue Jays dominated possession, the Green Terror midfield led by
Brandon Morse and
Carver Neary started to push forward and make runs into Hopkins territory.
In the 75th minute, Johns Hopkins broke through with a goal just inside the box by Griffin Meyer.
McDaniel tried to counter with shots by
Conor O'Brien and
Bowes, but both went wide of frame. With the clock winding down,
Noah Rodriguez drew a penalty just outside the box.
Morse lined up the free kick, and sent it just over the crossbar in McDaniel's last real chance to tie the game.
McDaniel returns to action on Saturday at home against Franklin & Marshall. The match is scheduled for 3 p.m.