Barnhart's Goal Lifts Women's Soccer Past Johns Hopkins in NCAA Tournament Opener, 1-0

11/13/2002 12:00:00 AM

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)

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