BALTIMORE, Md. – Junior attackman Zach Palmer scored three goals and added three assists as second-ranked Johns Hopkins (1-0) used a nine-goal run to break away from the Tigers (0-1) and earn a 12-6 victory in the Blue Jays' season opener at Homewood Field on Friday evening.
With the win, the Blue Jays presented Coach Dave Pietramala with the 150th victory of his coaching career.
The Tigers took a quick 1-0 lead in the opening minute of the first quarter when senior defenseman Sean Sheehe scored the first goal of his college career. But, Palmer answered just over two minutes later off an assist from junior midfielder John Greeley to tie the game at 1-1.
After the teams traded goals later in the first quarter, the Tigers regained a one-goal edge with 11:43 left in the second quarter when redshirt freshman midfielder Robby Zoppo scored his third goal of the season, an unassisted marker past junior goalkeeper Pierce Bassett.
But, the Blue Jays answered with a commanding nine-goal run over the next 28 minutes to take an 11-3 lead they did not relinquish. Senior attackman Chris Boland scored three times during the run while junior midfielder Lee Coppersmith and sophomore attackman Brandon Benn each added a pair of goals.
With 10:36 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Tigers snapped the Blue Jays' run when senior attackman Sean Maguire scored his fourth goal of the season off an assist from junior attackman Matt Hughes. Off the ensuing face-off, sophomore midfielder Andrew Hodgson scored to narrow the Tigers' gap to 11-5.
The teams traded goals in the final three minutes, but the Tigers were unable to get any closer as Johns Hopkins earned its 17th straight win over Towson.
While Palmer led the Blue Jays with a game-high six points, Boland tallied four goals as Johns Hopkins outshot Towson by a 42-18 margin.
Zoppo recorded his second-straight two-goal effort for the Tigers in a losing effort while Hughes and Maguire each tallied a goal with an assist. Making his second straight start, junior goalkeeper Andrew Wascavage made a career-high 11 saves.
The Tigers, who played their second straight road game, will return to action next Saturday afternoon when they travel to Loyola University Maryland for a 1 p.m. game against the Greyhounds. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays have a quick turnaround and will host the University of Delaware on Tuesday night at 5 p.m.
Men's College Lacrosse: No. 2 Johns Hopkins 12, Towson 6
Towson (1-1) 2-1-0-3 / 6
Johns Hopkins (1-0) 2-3-4-3 / 12
Goals: TOW – Robby Zoppo 2, Sean Maguire 1, Matt Hughes 1, Andrew Hodgson 1, Sean Sheehe 1; JHU – Chris Boland 4, Zach Palmer 3, Lee Coppersmith 2, Brandon Benn 2, Marshall Burkhart 1. Assists: TOW – Thomas DeNapoli 1, Matt Hughes 1, Sean Maguire 1; JHU – Zach Palmer 3, Wells Stanwick 2, John Greeley 1, John Ranagan 1. Saves: TOW – Andrew Wascavage 11 (60:00, 12 goals allowed); JHU – Pierce Bassett 7 (60:00, 6 goals allowed). Shots: TOW – 18; JHU – 42. Extra-Man Opportunities: TOW – 0 for 0; JHU – 2 for 3. Attendance: 2,320.
