HOBOKEN, N.J. – Sophomore forward Valerie Barnhart (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown Area) scored in the 56th minute as Stevens Institute of Technology earned a 1-0 win over Johns Hopkins University in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Championship on Wednesday at DeBaun Field.
Stevens (13-6-1) earned the win in its first-ever NCAA Championship appearance. It was also the first NCAA win for any Stevens team in a team sport. Johns Hopkins, the Centennial Conference champion, finishes its season at 14-6-2. The Ducks will now face eighth-ranked College of New Jersey (16-0-2) in a second-round game at 5 p.m. at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa. The College of New Jersey is making its 12th consecutive NCAA appearance.
Following a scoreless first half, Stevens scored the only goal of the game at the 55:27 mark. Barnhart gathered in a corner kick from senior Becky Gonter (Holland, N.Y./Central) and beat Johns Hopkins goalkeeper Shannon O’Malley with a low line drive to the lower left corner from 15 yards. It was her school-record 23rd goal of the season.
Johns Hopkins threatened in the 68th minute. Freshman Brenda Bzdak (Mequon, Wisc./Homestead) hit the left post and sophomore Kathleen Turley (New Hyde Park, N.Y./New Hyde Park) tapped in the rebound, but Turley was ruled offside on the play, negating the goal.
The Blue Jays held an 11-7 advantage in shots with the Ducks holding a 6-4 edge in corner kicks in a closely contested match. Junior goalkeeper Rommy Guevara (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) stopped five shots to earn the shutout for Stevens. O’Malley recorded one save, foiling Stevens forward Jess Soltysik (Pennsauken, N.J./Pennsauken) on a partial breakaway in the second half.
NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN’S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
NOVEMBER 13 – HOBOKEN, N.J.
STEVENS 1, JOHNS HOPKINS 0
Johns Hopkins (14-6-2) 0 0 - 0
Stevens (13-6-1) 0 1 – 1
STE Valerie Barnhart (Becky Gonter) 55:27
Shots: JH 11; STE 7
Corner Kicks: JH 4; STE 6
Saves: JH 1 (Shannon O’Malley);
STE 5 (Rommy Guevara)
