Box Score BALTIMORE, Md. – The No. 17-ranked
Salisbury University men's soccer team captured a 1-0 victory over
No. 25 Johns Hopkins University on Tuesday night.
With the shutout victory, the Sea Gulls (9-0-2, 3-0 Capital
Athletic Conference) have posted nine shutout performances this
season and have gone over 700 minutes since conceding a second-half
goal to Washington (Md.) College on Sept. 8.
The Sea Gulls got off to a great start in the contest, as they
earned a corner kick just nine minutes in. On the ensuing corner,
sophomore midfielder Pat
Callahan sent in a cross that senior defender
Casey
Rector headed on frame but was saved by the Johns
Hopkins (6-2-2) goalkeeper. Just five minutes later, the Blue Jays
had a dangerous chance as Tony Gass headed a shot off the SU goal
post, but it remained outside the goal line. In the first half of
play, the Sea Gulls held a 6-4 shots advantage and earned one
corner kick.
Johns Hopkins came out of the half with the first four shots
of the second stanza, but Salisbury was able to hold the Blue Jays
at bay. In the 60th minute, the Sea Gulls broke through with the
game's only goal. Junior forward Stafford
Chipungu played a ball to the left post, which senior
forward Mike
Napolitano headed past the JHU goalkeeper for his
team-leading fifth goal of the season. The Blue Jays would attempt
to counter, but sophomore goalkeeper John
Vnenchak and the SU defense would hold on for the
shutout. Vnenchak staved off a dangerous opportunity in the 78th
minute, as Scott Bukoski sent in a booming ball from the right side
of the 18-yard box toward the bottom left corner of the goal, but a
sprawling Vnenchak pushed the ball out of play for a JHU corner
kick.
Vnenchak posted his fourth victory of the season as he turned
away three shots, while Johns Hopkins' Ravi Gill went the distance
for the Blue Jays and finished with four saves in the
contest.
The Sea Gulls will return to CAC play this Saturday, as they are
set to play host to St. Mary's (Md.) College at 2 p.m., at the SU
Soccer Complex.
