Johns Hopkins women’s lacrosse advances to NCAA Tournament quarterfinals

Coach Tim McCormack said the journey for Johns Hopkins women’s lacrosse began in August.

That quest looks rosier now.

The Blue Jays used an 8-3 run over the final 23 minutes to put the finishing touch on a 21-13 victory over visiting Army West Point in an NCAA Tournament second-round matchup Sunday afternoon before an announced 484 at Homewood Field in Baltimore.

The victory ensured that Johns Hopkins (16-4), the No. 4 seed in the postseason, set the school’s Division I record for wins in a season — tying the record set in 1994 when the program competed at the Division III level — and advanced to the quarterfinal round for only the second time in program history and first time since 2007. That squad was bounced by Duke, but freshman attacker Paige Willard said she and her teammates are eager to set a new standard.

“Growing up, you kind of dream of these moments to be here and make it to however far you can make it,” she said. “So I think everyone just wants to win for each other and do it for each other.”

The Blue Jays will host the quarterfinal on Thursday at a time to be announced against No. 5 seed Stony Brook, which held off 2021 and 2024 national champion Boston College, 10-9. The Seawolves improved to 19-2 and are riding a 15-game winning streak.

Junior midfielder Lacey Downey said the Blue Jays know what is at stake, especially for a senior class hungry for continued success.

“We went out there knowing we wanted to win, knowing we had to win to have more days with this group,” she said. “We love our seniors, but if we lose, they’re gone. So, we just have to keep winning.”

The offense still fuels Johns Hopkins. With 21 goals against Albany in Friday’s first round and now the Black Knights, the Blue Jays are only the second in tournament history to rack up 20 goals or more in consecutive games, joining the Eagles, who did it in 2017, 2021 and 2024.

With a game-high six goals, senior attacker Ava Angello continued her rise in the Blue Jays’ record book. Already the school’s Division I leader for goals in a single season (74), she is three goals shy of Rebecca Savage’s all-time mark of 77 set in 1994 and two goals away from Mary Key’s career record of 234 from 2004 to 2007.

But Angello was not the only Johns Hopkins player to singe the Army net. Willard had four goals and three assists, junior attacker Taylor Hoss compiled two goals and five assists, junior midfielder Lacey Downey totaled three goals and three assists, and freshman attacker McKenzey Craig came off the bench to provide three goals and two assists.

While Angello and Downey, the Big Ten’s Midfielder of the Year, draw the most attention from opponents, the unit’s ability to manufacture goals and assists from other sources is a valued commodity, Willard said.

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