BALTIMORE, MD - Head coach Janine Tucker has announced the Johns Hopkins women's lacrosse schedule for 2006, when the Blue Jays will play nine of their 16 games against teams that were ranked or received votes in the final 2005 IWLCA Division I National Poll.
"We're entering the 2006 spring season with high expectations," Tucker said. "We face an incredible lineup of talented teams and are looking forward to being challenged each and every contest."
Hopkins begins its season on Sunday, February 26, at George Washington before hosting Princeton in its home-opener, a televised game (ESPNU) on Saturday, March 4. The Tigers finished 2005 with a 13-5 record and ranked #9 in the IWLCA poll.
The Blue Jays then open their conference season, hosting Ohio and Ohio State on March 10 and 12. Johns Hopkins plays five games, one less than last season, in the American Lacrosse Conference (ALC). The conference lost Davidson, which did not win an ALC game in the previous four years.
In addition to playing Ohio and Ohio State, Hopkins hosts Vanderbilt and visits Northwestern and Penn State to round out the ALC schedule. Vanderbilt finished last season ranked #19, while Penn State was #7 and Northwestern was #1 and the undefeated national champion.
"The American Lacrosse Conference has made an immediate impact on Division I women's lacrosse and we are proud to be part of such a terrific group of schools," Tucker said.
Highlighting the non-conference schedule is a Spring Break trip to Hawaii to play Oregon on March 18 and another televised game against last year's #8 Maryland at Homewood Field on Saturday, April 9.
Other ranked non-conference opponents include #13 Towson and #4 Georgetown, which visit Hopkins for the final two games of the regular season. The Blue Jays also play American and George Mason at Homewood Field, and visit Penn, UMBC, and Delaware. Penn and Delaware each received votes in the final 2005 IWLCA poll.
Johns Hopkins finished 11-6 overall, 3-3 in the ALC, and ranked #10 in the final national poll last season.
Date Day Opponent Location TV/Time
02/26/06 Sun George Washington Washington, DC 1:00 PM
03/04/06 Sat Princeton Homewood Field ESPNU (delay) 5:00 PM
03/10/06 Fri Ohio * Homewood Field 4:00 PM
03/12/06 Sun Ohio State * Homewood Field 1:00 PM
03/18/06 Sat Oregon Hawaii 3:00 PM
03/26/06 Sun American Homewood Field 3:30 PM
03/29/06 Wed Penn Philadelphia, PA 7:00 PM
04/02/06 Sun Vanderbilt * Homewood Field 1:00 PM
04/09/06 Sun Maryland Homewood Field ESPNU (live) 12:00 PM
04/12/06 Wed UMBC Baltimore (UMBC) 4:00 PM
04/19/06 Wed Delaware Newark, DE 7:00 PM
04/23/06 Sun Northwestern * Evanston, IL 1:00 PM
04/26/06 Wed George Mason Homewood Field 7:00 PM
04/29/06 Sat Penn State * Univ. Park, PA 1:00 PM
05/02/06 Tue Towson Homewood Field 4:00 PM
05/06/06 Sat Georgetown Homewood Field 1:00 PM
* = American Lacrosse Conference games
All times local
* * * * * * * * * *
HEMPSTEAD, New York * Hofstra University Head Women's Lacrosse Coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe today released her squad's 2006 schedule, one that includes games against six teams ranked nationally at the conclusion of the 2005 season. The highlight of the schedule, though, is the season-opener on February 24 at home against the defending national champions, Northwestern University. That contest will begin at 5:30 p.m. at James M. Shuart Stadium.
In addition to the match-up against the Wildcats, the Pride will also face two other conference champions and NCAA Tournament participants in Boston University (America East) and Towson University (Colonial Athletic Association (CAA)). The Terriers finished last season as the nation's number three ranked team, while the Tigers, who defeated Hofstra, 18-15, in the CAA Championship Game last May were ranked 13th in the final poll of 2005. Boston University advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2005 Division I Women's Lacrosse Championship and Towson fell by one goal to Georgetown in the first round of the tournament. Hofstra's game against the Terriers in on March 15 at home and the Pride will travel to Towson on April 9.
The other ranked teams on the Pride's 2006 schedule include: #17 Cornell (Away * March 12), #19 Vanderbilt (Home * April 23) and #20 Loyola (MD) (Home * March 26).
Hofstra returns seven starters among 17 returning letter winners from a squad that posted a 14-4 overall record last season and a 6-1 CAA mark. The Pride was the regular season CAA champions for the first time in school history and the 14 wins were the most since the 2001 team set a school-record with 16 victories. Tops among returnees include senior midfielder Becky Thorn (Holbrook, NY) who led the team with 39 goals and 44 points last season. Junior attack Kim Hiller (Massapequa, NY) returns as well after posting a team-high 14 assists and ranking second on the team with 43 points. Rounding out the Pride's top returning offensive threats is junior midfielder Casey McGrath (Kings Park, NY), who chipped in with 29 goals and 10 assists in 2005. On the defensive side of the ball, senior defender Jaime Irving (Cortlandt Manor, NY) will anchor the defensive unit, while sophomore goalie Maisie Osteen (Charlottesville, VA) controls the cage. Irving picked up 39 ground balls and caused 32 turnovers last season, tops among returnees, while Osteen had nine wins and a 7.43 goals against average in nearly 655 minutes of action a season ago.
February
24 Fri. NORTHWESTERN 5:30 p.m.
March
1 Wed. RUTGERS 4 p.m.
4 Sat. at Denver 1 p.m. (EST)
12 Sun. at Cornell 1 p.m.
15 Wed. BOSTON 4 p.m.
22 Wed. MASSACHUSETTS 4 p.m.
26 Sun. LOYOLA (MD) 12 p.m.
31 Fri. at George Mason * 4 p.m.
April
2 Sun. at James Madison * TBA
7 Fri. DELAWARE * 4 p.m.
9 Sun. at Towson * 1 p.m.
14 Fri. WILLIAM & MARY * 4 p.m.
16 Sun. OLD DOMINION * 1 p.m.
21 Fri. at Drexel * 3 p.m.
23 Sun. VANDERBILT 12 p.m.
25 Tue. at Stony Brook 4 p.m.
May
5 Fri. CAA Semifinals TBA
7 Sun. CAA Championship TBA
*Colonial Athletic Association game
Home games in CAPS.
Dates and times subject to change.
