Top seeds Johns Hopkins and Swarthmore defended their home fields with one-goal victories in Thursday's Centennial Conference field hockey semifinals. Top-seeded Hopkins held off fourth-seeded Franklin & Marshall 2-1 while second-seeded Swarthmore outlasted third-seeded Ursinus 2-1 in overtime.
Hopkins will host Swarthmore on Saturday at noon with the CC championship and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament at stake. It will mark the third time in CC history that the two sides have clashed for the title, with the other occurrences coming in 2023 and 2000. JHU is 2-0 in those previous title-game matchups.
In Baltimore, Md., Sophia Albano scored both goals to lead Johns Hopkins to a 2-1 win over Franklin & Marshall in the Centennial Conference semifinals Thursday night at Homewood Field. The Blue Jays improve to 15-4 while the Diplomats slip to 14-5.
Hopkins advances to the Centennial Conference Championship for the ninth straight year and 17
th overall. Albano's two goals tie her career high and is the first multi-goal game in the tournament since Lila Slattery had two on November 9, 2024.
In Swarthmore, Pa., Libby Castle scored the game-winner with just 0.1 seconds remaining in the second overtime period to give Swarthmore a thrilling 2-1 victory over Ursinus on Thursday night, sending the Garnet to the Centennial Championship for the first time since 2023.
Swarthmore gutted out the win after being pressured by the Bears throughout the contest as Ursinus finished with a 20-6 advantage in shots. The Bears threatened often with 18 penalty corners but the Garnet defense stood tall. Josie Sarno was outstanding in the cage, posting a career-high 14 saves. Avery Bloom also found the back of the net for Swarthmore while Katie Studzinski scored on a penalty stroke for Ursinus.
FIRST ROUND: Tuesday, Nov. 3 | at #3 & #4 seeds
#3 Ursinus d. #6 Dickinson, 3-1 | Box Score
#4 Franklin & Marshall d. #5 Haverford, 2-1 | Box Score
SEMIFINALS: Thursday, Nov. 5 | at #1 & #2 seeds
#2 Swarthmore d. #3 Ursinus, 2-1 (OT) | Box Score
#1 Johns Hopkins d. #4 Franklin & Marshall, 2-1 | Box Score
CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, Nov. 7 | at highest remaining seed
#2 Swarthmore at #1 Johns Hopkins, 12 p.m. | TICKETS
