One of college lacrosse’s longest-running rivalries resumes Saturday night as Navy (4-2, 1-1 Patriot League) hosts 11th-ranked Johns Hopkins (5-2, 0-0 Big Ten) at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The Midshipmen are looking to rebound after a 13-8 loss to Lehigh, while the Blue Jays hope to get back on track following a 13-10 defeat at Syracuse.
This will be the 94th meeting between the two programs in a series dating back to 1908. Hopkins leads the all-time matchup 63-29-1, but Navy has won two of the last three meetings, including last year’s 10-9 overtime victory in Baltimore. Johns Hopkins, however, has won the last three meetings in Annapolis.
Faceoff is set for 7:00 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN+.
Navy head coach Joe Amplo didn't want to overemphasize the stakes in this game.
"I've often said, 'tell me April 1st where you stand, and that will really clarify what the competition is,'" he said. "Every team out there, us and Hopkins and others, we're still trying to get the pieces right, get certain people to play the way we need them to play and really still form the team."
Nevertheless, both teams have a lot to gain from a win. While both the Mids and the Blue Jays are still refining themselves, this game can set the table for the rest of the season.
For Navy, this is an opportunity to bounce back from a frustrating loss and prove it can compete with a national-caliber program. The Mids are looking for consistency, having averaged 15.75 goals per game in their four wins but scoring a total of 15 goals in their two losses. A strong showing here would provide momentum to put the Lehigh loss behind them and take on the rest of the Patriot League schedule.
For Hopkins, this game closes out its non-conference schedule before Big Ten play begins. The Blue Jays have played one of the toughest schedules in the country, securing wins over Denver, Towson, and Virginia, and both of their losses have come by three goals or fewer to top-ten teams. A bounce-back win here would keep them front and center in the national spotlight.
Last Time Out
Navy: Fell 13-8 to Lehigh, struggling at the faceoff X as the Mountain Hawks won 23 of 25 draws. Jack Ponzio (5G) led the way, while Mac Haley (4A) facilitated the offense.
Johns Hopkins: Lost 13-10 at Syracuse, with Russell Melendez (3G, 2A) leading the Blue Jays. Hopkins allowed a 6-1 Syracuse run that proved decisive.
The Matchup
NAVY (4-2, 1-1 PL)
Key Players:
William Goers (Fr. A) – 9G, 7A (16P)
Jack Ponzio (Fr. M) – 9G, 6A (15P); coming off a five-goal performance vs. Lehigh
Mac Haley (Jr. A) – 6G, 8A (14P); assists in four straight games
Dan Daly (Jr. G) – 10.86 GAA, .521 SV%
AJ Marsh (So. D) – Second-team All-Patriot League last year; Navy’s top close defender
Amplo on Offensive Strategy:
"The way you play offense nowadays, most teams don't become as matchup-conscious later in the possession because there's so much picking and body movement with ball movement. You're going to get a matchup that you like."
What It Means: Preventing turnovers will be crucial for Navy's offense. The Mids want extended possessions to manipulate matchups and free up its top scorers, especially Goers and Ponzio, later in the shot clock.
#11 JOHNS HOPKINS (5-2, 0-0 B1G)
Key Players:
Russell Melendez (Sr. A) – 14G, 8A (22P)
Hunter Chauvette (So. A) – 14G, 5A (19P); had five goals in the win over Virginia
Matt Collison (Jr. M) – 12G, 8A (20P)
Amplo on Russell Melendez:
"He is certainly as good of a player as Hopkins has and maybe one of the best players in that league."
What It Means: Melendez is a transfer from Marquette, and Amplo recruited him hard before taking the Navy job. He's all too familiar with the senior attacker's ability. However, with Chauvette and Collison both capable of taking over games themselves, the Mids can't afford to overplay Melendez. Individual effort on defense will be a huge factor for Navy.
Keys to the Game:
Faceoffs – Navy’s 2-for-25 performance vs. Lehigh was a disaster. The Mids must find a way to slow Hopkins’ Logan Callahan (57.8%) at the X. If Callahan dominates, Navy will be forced into defensive survival mode, like against Lehigh.
Defensive Discipline – Hopkins thrives on transition and ball movement. Navy must limit fast-break opportunities and force the Blue Jays into set offense while not overplaying any of their high-scoring stars.
Balanced Attack – Seven different Navy players have at least five goals this season. The Mids must spread the wealth to keep Hopkins from keying in on Ponzio and Goers.
Daly will be put to the test– Daly averaged 48 shots faced over his last four games, and he has performed admirably at times, particularly in a 20-save showing against Penn State. However, his save percentage dipped to .421 over the last two games. Both the volume and quality of shots from Hopkins' all-star trio is likely to be high. For Navy to have a chance in this game, Daly needs a return to form.
