Oct. 19, 2009

Courtesy of Johns Hopkins

BALTIMORE, MD - Johns Hopkins has dominated the series with Muhlenberg in the win-loss column over the years, but it in the past two seasons, the Mules have stunned the Blue Jays in overtime. Nicki Notarianni scored with just over five minutes remaining in the second overtime to lift the visiting Mules to a 1-0 win over the 10th-ranked Blue Jays on a cold and rainy night at Homewood Field. The loss drops Hopkins to a 10-3 overall and 5-2 in the Centennial Conference, while Muhlenberg improves to 8-5, 4-3.

Muhlenberg's Kristen Dornenburg did all she could to keep Johns Hopkins off the board, making 11 saves, including five in the first half and five in the two overtime periods. In the second, junior Jenn Motylinski (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) tipped a shot from junior Ariana Branchini (Old Lyme, CT/Choate) that got past Dornenburg, but Amanda DiMarco was there to clear the ball away and keep the game at a 0-0 tie. The teams would remain scoreless through the first overtime, thanks to three saves from Dornenburg and one from senior Sophia Tieu (Cupertino, CA/Cupertino). With just under five minutes remaining in the second overtime, Tara Cohn slid a pass to Notarianni, who one-timed it past Tieu to give the Mules the win.

It was the 14th time in 19 meetings between Hopkins and Muhlenberg that the game has been decided by just one goal. The Mules have now won two straight in the series, both in overtime. It was the Blue Jays first ever loss at Homewood to the Mules. It is also the first time Hopkins has been held scoreless since that 1-0 overtime loss at Muhlenberg on October 18, 2008.

Hopkins returns to action on Friday, October 23 as the Blue Jays host Bryn Mawr. The Centennial Conference game is slated to begin at 4:00 pm.