Tartans Prevail Against #18 Johns Hopkins

Sept. 11 – (PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – An early goal by the Tartans proved to stand up as the Carnegie Mellon University men's soccer team upended #18 Johns Hopkins University 1-0 Friday night at Gesling Stadium. The Radisson Invitational started on a high note for the Tartans who are now 4-1 on the season.

The Tartans were able to get on the board first when senior Pat Lutz (Lebanon, Pa./Lancaster Country Day) headed a service from sophomore Ian Epperson (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) towards the net at the 13 minute mark. Lutz was about 25 yards out and in the center of the field when his lofted header just got over the stretched out hand of Johns Hopkins keeper, Ravi Gill, and dropped across the goalline.

At 29:27, senior Keith Haselhoff (White Oak, Pa./McKeesport) just missed a shot to the far post as senior Ricky Griffin (Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y./Hastings) dished off a pass to the right sideline that Haselhoff angled just wide of the left post.

The defensive line for the Tartans kept the Hopkins attack far from the net as Epperson, senior Austin Good (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Twp.), senior Jon Hall (Venetia, Pa./Peters Twp.), and junior Max Betzig (Pinckney, Mich./Greenhills) stayed tight not allowing the Blue Jays a shot through the first half.

With about 18 minutes to play, the Tartans were awarded a free kick from about 30 yards out and to the right of the net. Senior Ryan Browne (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) took a shot at the goal around the wall that just sailed wide.

Senior keeper, Maks Khurgin (Cupertino, Calif./Monta Vista) made his most influential play of the game with 4:27 showing on the clock. A free kick by Max Venker headed toward the middle of the 18 where Khurgin charged and punched it clear to remove any threat.

The Blue Jays could only muster two other shot opportunities, one coming three minutes into the second period and the other with a minute left in the game. Both shot attempts were wide of the goal.

The second half was played mostly in the middle of the field as both defensive lines withstood the offensive pressure.

The Tartans will resume action in the Radisson Invitational with a 7:30 p.m. contest against Penn State Altoona on Saturday, September 12.