Always bet on blue.
That?s the reputation the Johns Hopkins men?s lacrosse team has earned through the years, especially when it comes to playing in close games under coach Dave Pietramala.
With its 9-8 win over Hofstra Saturday, Hopkins (3-1) improved to 26-6 in one-goal games with Pietramala at the helm, including a 2-1 record in such games already this year. The Blue Jays topped Princeton, 7-6, in double overtime March 3, one week after an 8-7 loss to Albany in their Feb. 24 season opener.
“I like to think it?s because we pay attention to the little things and pay attention to the small details,” said Pietramala, who is in his seventh season at Hopkins. “I think those are the intangibles that win one-goal games. That is what got Princeton over the threshold many times in one-goal games, and I think we learned from them and believe it?s those things that help us in one-goal games.”
Hopkins has won 13 of its last 15 and 17 of its last 20 in one-goal contests, marking a great improvement for the Blue Jays, who went just 17-14 in one-goal games from 1988 to 2000.
“That?s what Coach ?Petro? preaches to us all week ? to take every team seriously,” Hopkins senior attack Jake Byrne said. “Every game is going to be a close game, so Coach puts a lot of pressure on us in practice Monday through Friday so we get used to it. So when the time comes and the game gets close, we?re used to having Coach come down on us to pick things up. That?s why Hopkins is so good at one-goal games.”
During this run, Hopkins has usually rallied to win. The Blue Jays trailed in 11 of their last 13 one-goal games, and in eight of those contests, they trailed by at least two goals. Against Princeton this year, Hopkins trailed 2-0 and 3-1 before coming back to win.
“Coach puts a lot of emphasis on winning one-goal games and does a great job of preparing us for winning the close games,” Hopkins freshman attack Steven Boyle said. “He really takes alot of pride in winning those types of games.”
HOPKINS NOTES
» Johns Hopkins is 11-2 in overtime games under coach Dave Pietramala. The team has also won its last seven contests that were tied after regulation.
» Hopkins is 59-8 in its last 67 regular-season games dating back to the end of the 2001 season. The Blue Jays are also 67-12 overall since the start of the 2002 season.
