Much of the early-season attention given to the Johns Hopkins men?s lacrosse team has focused on the play of freshmen Steven Boyle and Michael Kimmel.
But, the Blue Jays are an experienced team that returned 90.6 percent of its scoring offense from last year. Senior attack Jake Byrne reminded Hofstra of that Saturday, as he had two goals and two assists in helping Hopkins (3-1) win its third game in ten days with a 9-8 victory over the visiting Pride (1-2).
“We?re feeling great,” Byrne said. “Anytime you can go 3-1 at the start of our schedule, it?s a good thing. A win?s a win and while going undefeated would have been great, that?s something that rarely happens. We?ve gotten good goalie play and defense most of the year and if we can spark some more transition on offense, I think we?ll be OK.”
Hopkins coach Dave Pietramala said this win was key for his team as its next six games are against teams ranked in the top 13 in the country. This stretch begins this coming Saturday at 3:30 p.m. when Hopkins plays at No. 12 Syracuse (2-2).
Still, Hofstra had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds but a shot from sophomore attack Tom Dooley sailed over the goal as time expired. The Pride had trailed 5-1 at halftime.
“I think we relaxed a little bit, particularly in the goal,” Pietramala said. “But, this is our third game in ten days. We had an emotional win against Princeton and a business-like win against UMBC. This team took us to the threshold and I?m just glad we answered the bell and came away with the win.”
Pietramala said his team can?t afford to let opponents back into the game like it did against Hofstra and remain a serious contender for the national title.
This was especially true in the third quarter against the Pride, when it scored four times and won four of five face-offs.
Hopkins? win spoiled the homecoming of first-year Pride coach Seth Tierney, a 1991 Hopkins graduate who spent the last six seasons as the Blue Jays offensive coordinator.
“I?m never happy when we lose, otherwise I?m in the wrong profession,” Tierney said. “But, I?m proud of our guys and how they fought because anytime you spot a team like Hopkins a 5-1 lead, you have your work cut out for you.”
LAX NOTES
» Freshman attack Steven Boyle had three goals for Hopkins against Hofstra.
» Dan Stein scored three times and Tom Dooley had two goals and an assist for Hofstra.
» Hofstra coach Seth Tierney, a former Hopkins player and assistant coach, leads his team Saturday against Princeton. The Tigers are coached by his uncle, Bill Tierney.
