BALTIMORE, Md. – The Haverford College men's soccer team (4-3-8, 2-2-4 CC) grabbed a huge Centennial Conference point Saturday, drawing with Johns Hopkins (9-3-4, 4-2-2 CC) on Homewood Field.
The first major chance of the game happened just nine minutes in, as the Blue Jays had a dangerous chance at net. After a mishap handling a long ball from Haverford keeper Dylan Ioffreda, Johns Hopkins' forward Griffin Meyer chipped a ball towards an empty net, but put the shot just over the crossbar.
The senior goalkeeper for the Fords was called into action just 42 seconds later, making a fantastic save that denied Johns Hokpkins' Ian Whamond.
Following a Kieran Kunihiro header that went high off a corner kick, the Blue Jays broke the scoreless tie in the 35th minute. Blue Jays' defender Will Andrus sprinted down the flank and served in a hard cross on the ground into the middle of the box. The ball found the foot of Whamond who rifled a shot into the back of the net, giving Johns Hopkins the 1-0 lead.
Alex Millones had one last shot for the Scarlet and Black before half, but was denied by Johns Hopkins keeper Drew Valsamedis in the 40th minute. At half, the Blue Jays held the advantage in shots 9-5 and shots on goal 4-1.
The Fords found themselves with a dangerous opportunity in the 52nd minute, as they were awarded an indirect free kick in the box. The free kick was given to Haverford after JHU's Valsamedis illegally touched a ball with his hands that deflected off the foot of another Blue Jay.
Juan Rivera took the free kick, placing a curling ground pass to an incoming Brian Lorenz. The Haverford midfielder ripped a shot towards the net that was ricocheted away by a Johns Hopkins defender. Rivera got onto the rebound, and after some fancy footwork, unleashed a shot towards the top corner of the net that was turned away by Vaslamedis.
The following ten minutes saw Johns Hopkins continue the offensive pressure, with three shots coming from Meyer (two of them being saved by Ioffreda).
The 70th minute saw the equalizer for the Scarlet and Black, with Thomas Vanni finding the back of the net. Off of a turnover in the midfield, Aidan Lacy played a menacing ball on the turf that rolled towards the top of the box. Vanni got onto the end of it and fired a left-footed shot past Valsamedis to level the game at one.
The Blue Jays tried to answer five minutes later after the always dangerous Meyer went streaking towards the net with the ball. The dangerous break forced Ioffreda to come off his line to try and cut the angle off from the Johns Hopkins' forward. Meyer blasted a shot on frame, but a sliding Joey Carol blocked the shot and turned away a potential go-ahead goal for the Blue Jays.
Johns Hopkins had one more chance with under a minute to go, but a Scotty Coleman header off a curling cross into the box went just inches above the crossbar.
A very exciting match concluded with a 1-1 tie. An even battle saw a 15-12 shot advantage for the Blue Jays, as well as a 5-4 lead in corner kicks.
Ioffreda ended the contest with five saves, while Vanni paced the Fords in shots with four.
Haverford will be back in action Tuesday October 24, as the Fords remain on the road to take on Scranton in their final non-conference game of the season. Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.