It was a game I could never forget.
Hopkins fans know too well of Virginia men's lacrosse: It was they who defeated our Blue Jays right in the Hopkins Field in 2003 semi-final putting us heart-broken. So when once again Cavaliers were meeting Blue Jays in NCAA Men's Lacrosse 2005 Semi-final in Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, you could feel the feud.
Both team couldn't score in the first quarter; they did have a lot of shots and saves, though. It was Hopkins who broke the ice as a result of more effective shots. They kept the momentum to push the score to 3-0 when Cavaliers started to score but still couldn't reduce the gap. By the end of the third quarter, Hopkins took a steady lead 6-3 and the statistics were on their side.
Had sports games all gone with statistics, they wouldn't be so inspiring to their spectators as well as players. And God has his weapon of defying the statistics: "Let there be wind and shower." So there was. A big one.
When the statium holding more than 40,000 people was in a mess of flying napkins and screaming kids, the Cavaliers seized their chance. With the wind blowing towards their attacking direction, Virginia scored 3 goals before Hopkins realized it. And it was too late: By the fourth quarter 4'45'' remaining, Virginia scored again, taking the lead for the first time, 7-6. The game was stopped there for the severe weather condition.
Then came the longest 20 minutes for all the attending Blue Jays' fans.
The game restarted with hopkins in possession when the shower stopped. We were praying. And it worked: With the first shot, Kyle Harrison scored when the game restarted for just 20 seconds. Virginia called time-out when they got the ball.
The strategy of the Cavaliers was crystal clear: Hold the ball in possession until the time remains only enough for one attack.
It was the right choice and they carried it out precisely: They began to attack with about 30 seconds remaining and scored the devastating goal leaving 12.9 seconds for Blue Jays. Some Cavaliers were already cheering for the game.
Only through intimidating rivals shall a sports team show its true worth. Blue Jays showed theirs and how fansinating a lacrosse game could be with a lightning goal. When Jake Byrne raised his stick for the last shot with 1.4 second remaining, everyone held one's breath: Goal! They did it! Jake saved the Jays from the brink of death!
Over-time in lacrosse was ferocious. Both teams had their chances and did their best but when the weather was fine, Hopkins was luckier: Benson Erwin scored the decisive goal for Blue Jays, sending Cavaliers and their (literally) screaming fans home by a 9-8 OT victory. What a game!
P.S. As I was writing this article, the final game between Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays and Duke University Blue Devils has just started. Go Hopkins! Beat the Devils!
Hopkins fans know too well of Virginia men's lacrosse: It was they who defeated our Blue Jays right in the Hopkins Field in 2003 semi-final putting us heart-broken. So when once again Cavaliers were meeting Blue Jays in NCAA Men's Lacrosse 2005 Semi-final in Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, you could feel the feud.
Both team couldn't score in the first quarter; they did have a lot of shots and saves, though. It was Hopkins who broke the ice as a result of more effective shots. They kept the momentum to push the score to 3-0 when Cavaliers started to score but still couldn't reduce the gap. By the end of the third quarter, Hopkins took a steady lead 6-3 and the statistics were on their side.
Had sports games all gone with statistics, they wouldn't be so inspiring to their spectators as well as players. And God has his weapon of defying the statistics: "Let there be wind and shower." So there was. A big one.
When the statium holding more than 40,000 people was in a mess of flying napkins and screaming kids, the Cavaliers seized their chance. With the wind blowing towards their attacking direction, Virginia scored 3 goals before Hopkins realized it. And it was too late: By the fourth quarter 4'45'' remaining, Virginia scored again, taking the lead for the first time, 7-6. The game was stopped there for the severe weather condition.
Then came the longest 20 minutes for all the attending Blue Jays' fans.
The game restarted with hopkins in possession when the shower stopped. We were praying. And it worked: With the first shot, Kyle Harrison scored when the game restarted for just 20 seconds. Virginia called time-out when they got the ball.
The strategy of the Cavaliers was crystal clear: Hold the ball in possession until the time remains only enough for one attack.
It was the right choice and they carried it out precisely: They began to attack with about 30 seconds remaining and scored the devastating goal leaving 12.9 seconds for Blue Jays. Some Cavaliers were already cheering for the game.
Only through intimidating rivals shall a sports team show its true worth. Blue Jays showed theirs and how fansinating a lacrosse game could be with a lightning goal. When Jake Byrne raised his stick for the last shot with 1.4 second remaining, everyone held one's breath: Goal! They did it! Jake saved the Jays from the brink of death!
Over-time in lacrosse was ferocious. Both teams had their chances and did their best but when the weather was fine, Hopkins was luckier: Benson Erwin scored the decisive goal for Blue Jays, sending Cavaliers and their (literally) screaming fans home by a 9-8 OT victory. What a game!
P.S. As I was writing this article, the final game between Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays and Duke University Blue Devils has just started. Go Hopkins! Beat the Devils!
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