TOWSON, Md. ? Playing in the final game of her college career, Towson senior midfielder Shannon Witzel (Pottstown H.S./Pottstown, Pa.) scored three goals to tie Ruth Gutridge, '86 for the school's all-time goals record. However, a four-goal performance by Johns Hopkins freshman Sam Schrum spoiled Senior Night for the Tigers (6-9) as the Blue Jays (10-6) earned a 15-9 victory over Towson at Johnny Unitas ® Stadium on Monday evening.
Schrum scored a career-high four goals in the second half as the Blue Jays won for the fourth time in the last five games. It was also the Blue Jays' seventh straight victory over the Tigers, dating back to the 2001 season.
After junior midfielder Kadie Stamper (C. Milton Wright H.S./Bel Air, Md.) gave the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead just 53 seconds into the first half, the Tigers rallied with back-to-back goals from freshman Nikki Marcinik (Southern H.S./Deale, Md.) and sophomore Hillary Fratzke (Queen Anne's Country H.S./Centerville, Md.) to take a 2-1 advantage. However, the Blue Jays responded by scoring five of the final six goals in the first half to take a 6-3 lead at the end of the first half. Senior attacker Mary Key (St. Mary's H.S./Stevensville, Md.), who leads the nation in points per game, scored twice while adding her 46th assist of the season, which broke the Johns Hopkins single-season record.
Senior attacker Lauren Carls (Hereford H.S./Parkton, Md.) opened the second half by scoring the first goal of her college career off a Fratzke assist just nine seconds into the stanza, cutting the margin to 6-4. Fratzke followed just 11 seconds later with her second goal of the game, an unassisted marker past sophomore goalkeeper Amelia Harris (J.W. Robinson H.S./Clifton, Va.).
After the teams traded goals, the Blue Jays went on a 4-1 run over a 15-minute span to extend their lead to 11-7 with 10:28 remaining in the period. Schrum scored three consecutive goals during the rally.
With 9:16 left in the period, senior midfielder Shannon Witzel (Pottstown H.S./Pottstown, Pa.) scored her third goal of the game on a free-position shot to end the Blue Jays' momentum. With her 208th career goal, she tied Gutridge as the Tigers' career goals leader. But, the Blue Jays quickly responded with three consecutive goals over a four-minute period, upping their lead to 14-8. Despite a goal by Fratzke with 4:24 remaining, the Tigers were unable to get closer as Stamper scored an unassisted tally with 1:12 left to secure the Blue Jays' victory.
Schrum was one of two Blue Jays to post a hat trick in the victory as Stamper scored three goals with an assist. Key, who also set the Blue Jays' single-season points record in the victory, added two goals and two assists. Harris recorded a career-high 15 saves.
Fratzke, who recorded her team-leading 11th hat trick of the season, led the Tigers with three goals and an assist while Witzel added three goals for her 40th career hat trick. She ends her career with 208 goals and 47 assists. “Early in the game, I was pressing,” Witzel said of matching the record. “In the back of my mind though, I was going for the record.”
“When you have a competitive kid like [Witzel], of course she wants to go for the record. But, she's not just after the record,” Tiger Coach Missy Doherty said. “You always look for a kid who can set an example on how to compete and the other players get to see how that works.”
Witzel was one of three Tiger seniors playing in their final college game. Carls scored a goal while recording a career-high three ground balls. Senior Lindsay Lusignea (Upper Dublin H.S./Maple Glen, Pa.) had a career-high four draw controls as the Tigers held a 14-12 advantage against the Blue Jays in draw controls.
The Tigers end the season with a 6-9 record while the Blue Jays return to action this weekend as they host the American Lacrosse Conference Tournament at Homewood Field.
#15 Johns Hopkins (10-6) 6-9 / 15
Towson (6-9) 3-6 / 9
Goals: JHU ? Sam Schrum 4, Kadie Stamper 3, Mary Key 2, Lauren Schwarzmann 2, Steph Janice 2, Sarah Walsh 1, Kirby Houck 1; TU ? Hillary Fratzke 3, Shannon Witzel 3, Nikki Marcinik 1, Britt Woodfield 1, Lauren Carls 1. Assists: JHU ? Mary Key 2, Alex Nolan 1, Kadie Stamper 1, Sarah Walsh 1; TU ? Hillary Fratzke 1, Nikki Marcinik 1, Meggie McNamara 1. Saves: JHU ? Amelia Harris 15 (60:00, 9 goals allowed); TU ? Mandy Corry 13 (60:00, 15 goals allowed). Shots: JHU ? 36, TU ? 32. Attendance: 415.
