Baltimore -- Loyola University Maryland showed early firepower and repeated resilience, but a big fourth quarter run from Johns Hopkins University sent the Greyhounds to a 14-8 season opening loss on Wednesday at Homewood Field.
The Greyhounds (0-1 overall) opened the scoring in the first quarter with a goal from Elisa Faklaris. The Blue Jays (2-0 overall) responded with a 5-0 run, as they held Loyola at bay during a 10-minute stretch. Faklaris scored her second goal of the quarter from a assist from Mim Suares-Jury, that kickstarted a 4-0 run over the final three minutes. In the final three minutes, Emma Talago and Mim Suares-Jury added tallies, while Morgan Ruhnke's free-position goal with 27 seconds left pulled Loyola even at 5-all after one.
Loyola continued to trade punches in the second. Ava Kane finished a feed from Talago to put the Greyhounds in front, and after Hopkins answered twice, Kane struck again with two seconds remaining before halftime, again from Talago, sending the teams to the break tied 7-7.
To start the second half, both defenses held strong, as both teams were scoreless over the first 12 minutes of the third quarter. Johns Hopkins ended the scoring drought, as they scored a pair of goals over a 36 second stretch, to lead 9-7 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Blue Jays continued their momentum in the fourth, scoring three goals over the first five minutes, as the Greyhounds could not overcome the deficit, as they lost 14-8.
Mim Suares-Jury, Ava Kane, and Elisa Faklaris each scored two goals on Wednesday, as Suares-Jury added a assist. Emma Talago had a goal and two assists, while Lauren Perfetto recorded a pair of assists.
Morgan Ruhnke scored her first career goal in her first career game, while Mae Murphy dominated from the draw circle, grabbing 12 draw controls and leading Loyola to a 15-8 edge in draw controls.
Johns Hopkins was led by Lacey Downey who had five points (2 goals, 3 assists) and Ava Angello (3 goals, 1 assist).
Loyola returns to action on Saturday, as they will travel up to Lehigh to face the Mountain Hawks in their Patriot League opener.
