Coming off a one-goal loss to Maryland on senior day, Johns Hopkins seemed to carry the momentum and energy of taking the No. 1 team in the country to the brink all the way to State College.
Sophomore goalie Tim Marcile made 12 saves in his second career start, Connor DeSimone facilitated the offense masterfully with three goals and three assists and fifth year senior Cole Williams (four goals) scored the 100th goal of his career in the 15-7 win over third seed Penn State in the Big 10 Tournament Quarterfinals.
Williams’ final goal of the game on an empty net with 4:26 to play gave the Blue Jays the most goals they’ve scored in any game this season.
It was the first win for Hopkins (3-8), seeded sixth, since March 13—a 13-6 win over Penn State at Homewood.
“It feels like it’s been forever,” Hopkins first-year head coach Peter Milliman said after the game. “I know we’ve had some tough ones, but getting on the right side of this for the first time in a while is important. It’s a good team win.”
With the game tied 4-4, the Blue Jays scored the final four goals of the first half to take an 8-4 lead into halftime. DeSimone’s bounce pass to Casey McDermott, who scored the first goal of his collegiate career, was the highlight of the run and the game.
Hopkins continued to excel in the second half and outscored Penn State 4-2 in the third quarter, on goals from four different players. After TJ Malone scored a minute into the fourth quarter to cut the Nittany Lions’ deficit to 12-7, the Blue Jays closed the game on a three-goal run.
“I think if it was an effort competition we won that and that’s most important because that puts us in a place to be competitive against everybody,” Milliman said.
NCAA career goals record holder Mac O’Keefe, who earlier this week was drafted 6th overall by the Chaos in the Premier Lacrosse League College Draft, scored the 220th and 221st goals in his final collegiate came.