Johns Hopkins–Navy lacrosse rivalry

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Johns Hopkins–Navy lacrosse rivalry
Johns Hopkins Blue Jays
Navy Midshipmen
First meeting1908
Johns Hopkins 6, Navy 1
Latest meetingMarch 17, 2023
Johns Hopkins 12, Navy 9
Statistics
Meetings total902
All-time seriesJohns Hopkins leads, 63–28–1
Largest victoryJohns Hopkins, 24–5 (1997)
Longest win streakJohns Hopkins, 36 (1975–2009)
Current win streakNavy, 1 (2024–Present)

The Johns Hopkins–Navy lacrosse rivalry is an

conference realignment, as the longtime independents joined the Patriot League and Big Ten Conference respectively in the last decade. A 2020 renewal was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was instead renewed in 2022. As of 2024, Johns Hopkins leads the series 63–29–1.[2]

Series history

Early years (1900s to 1960s)

Johns Hopkins bested the Midshipmen in the inaugural meeting by a score of 6 to 1. Navy gained its first win in the series in 1910, as the game was played on a semi-annual basis through 1928. The Midshipmen defeated the Jays in 1928 and would share the USILA Gold Medal with Johns Hopkins, Maryland, and Rutgers.[3] The hiatus began with a relatively even series; Navy led 9–7–1. The two would reconcile in 1943 in Annapolis, before resuming the series in 1946 and playing annually from 1949 to 2017.[4]

Post-World War II resumption began with five consecutive Jays victories, their longest streak to that point. Notably, the state rivals did not meet during the 1949 campaign, as the Navy ended with an undefeated 11–0 record but had to settle for a split national championship with Hopkins. Navy would respond by reeling off four straight victories over Hopkins, but the Jays would counter by winning the next three. Up to this point, both teams were title contenders each season, with Hopkins winning five titles and Navy winning three since resumption. 1959 marked a crucial turning point. Johns Hopkins would claim the national title, but Navy downed the Jays 13–11 to deny them a perfect season. This was the first of eight consecutive Midshipmen victories under coach Willis Bilderback, their longest streak in the rivalry.[5] The last seven of these coincided with Navy national titles and preeminence over the sport. In 1967, Johns Hopkins broke the streak with a 9–6 defeat of Navy, but the teams would ultimately share the USILA championship with Maryland.[1] 1969 featured a three-goal victory for the Midshipmen in Baltimore, the most recent time that they have won the rivalry game on the road at Homewood Field.[6] In 1970, Navy and the Jays would again share the title, this time with Virginia, as Hopkins handed Navy their only defeat on the season.

Hopkins dominance (1970s through 2000s)

1971 marked the first year in the

national runner-up.[8]

That matchup in 1974 would be the last for Navy against their in-state rivals for 36 years. The streak is further unprecedented by the fact that the Midshipmen were consistently good on the national stage. From the introduction of the USILA polls in 1973, all but one Hopkins–Navy meeting was between two Top 10 teams until the 1990 contest. All games were between ranked teams until 1996, when Navy entered unranked.[9] The nature of the streak carries comparisons with Navy's college football rivalry with Notre Dame, in which the Fighting Irish defeated the Midshipmen for 43 consecutive years, the longest streak between Division I opponents in NCAA history.[10] Navy ended that dubious distinction in 2007 with a 46–44 triple overtime victory and would finally end their losing steak against Hopkins several years later.

Recent years (2010–present)

2010 would mark the season that Navy finally got over the hump against their rivals. Prior to the game, longtime Midshipmen coach Richie Meade told his players "You’re Midshipmen at the Naval Academy, your future leaders and people’s lives are going to be in your hands. You understand the mission, you understand what you’re required to do, and now I want you to go out and get it done."[11] Navy rallied from an early five goal deficit, scoring six in the second quarter to take a narrow lead into halftime. After a spirited second half, the game went to overtime tied at eight. Since 2000, three Blue Jays victories came in overtime and 2010 would go down the same route. However, this time Navy prevailed in the extra session to win 9–8.[11]

Two seasons later, the Midshipmen put on a spectacular defensive display, holding Hopkins to just two goals in an 8–2 victory. The Jays would win the next five, including a double overtime victory in 2016. The 2017 contest was the first between Top 10 teams since 2008, as the Jays rolled to a comfortable seven goal victory. After that game, the series took a two-year hiatus due to scheduling concerns between the schools,[12] in part due to their recent decisions to join conferences, giving up their historical independent status.[13][14] A renewal was scheduled in 2020 but the game, along with the entire NCAA season, was cancelled due to concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]

Rival accomplishments

The following summarizes the accomplishments of the two programs.[9][8]

Team Johns Hopkins Blue Jays Navy Midshipmen
Pre-NCAA National Titles 35 17
NCAA National Titles
 9 0
NCAA Final Four Appearances 29 8
NCAA Tournament Appearances 47 27
NCAA Tournament Record 71–38 17–27
Conference Tournament Titles 2 5
Conference Championships 2 8
Tewaarton Award Recipients 1 0
Lt. Raymond Enners Award Recipients 11 0
Consensus First Team All-Americans 184 105
All-time Program Record 993–356–15 807–366–14
All-time Winning Percentage .739 .686

Game results

Johns Hopkins victoriesNavy victoriesTie games
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 1908
2008
Annapolis, MD #4 Johns Hopkins 10–4
82 2009 Baltimore, MD #9 Johns Hopkins 15–7
83 2010 Annapolis, MD Navy 9–8OT
84 2011 Baltimore, MD #2 Johns Hopkins 14–5
85 2012 Annapolis, MD Navy 8–2
86 2013 Baltimore, MD #11 Johns Hopkins 15–4
87 2014 Annapolis, MD #6 Johns Hopkins 6–5
88 2015 Baltimore, MD #17 Johns Hopkins 13–8
89 2016 Annapolis, MD #5 Johns Hopkins 12–112OT
90 2017 Baltimore, MD #8 Johns Hopkins 15–8
91 2022 Baltimore, MD Navy 11–10
92 2023 Annapolis, MD Johns Hopkins 12–9
93 2024 Baltimore, MD Navy 10–9OT
Series: Johns Hopkins leads 63–29–1
Source:[16]

References

  1. ^ a b "Former Jay reflects on Homecoming's magic". The Johns Hopkins News-Letter. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  2. ^ "Johns Hopkins-Navy Men's Lacrosse Notes". Johns Hopkins University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  3. ^ Scott, Bob. Lacrosse: Technique and Tradition. p. 13.
  4. ^ "Hopkins-Navy Series Halted Due to Conference Scheduling Conflicts". www.uslaxmagazine.com. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  5. ^ "Lacrosse In The 1960s: Johns Hopkins Men's Lacrosse Defeated Navy 9-6 To Win 1967 National Championship And Bring Midshipmen's 8-Year Dynasty To An End (Sports Illustrated May 22, 1967)". LAXBUZZ. 2010-11-07. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  6. ^ Wagner, Bill. "Navy on a roll, Johns Hopkins reeling going into Saturday meeting". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  7. ^ a b Demling, Tanner. "Hopkins-Navy Series Halted Due to Conference Scheduling Conflicts". www.uslaxmagazine.com. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  8. ^ a b "2019 Men's Lacrosse Media Guide (PDF)". Naval Academy Athletics. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  9. ^ a b "Men's Lacrosse Record Book (PDF)" (PDF). Johns Hopkins University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  10. ^ "Navy vs. Notre Dame – Game Recap – November 3, 2007 – ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  11. ^ a b Hoffman, Mike (April 26, 2010). "Navy shocks Hopkins to break 35-year losing streak". afteraction.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  12. ^ Wagner, Bill. "Loss of Hopkins-Navy lacrosse series just another sign of the times". capitalgazette.com. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  13. ^ Wagner, Bill. "Johns Hopkins-Navy men's lacrosse rivalry halted for at least two years". capitalgazette.com. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  14. ^ Lee, Edward. "Johns Hopkins men's lacrosse retaining annual game vs. Navy, but Loyola Maryland is question mark". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  15. ^ "NCAA Announces Cancellation of Spring, Remaining Winter Championships". insidelacrosse.com. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
  16. ^ "Johns Hopkins University Men's Lacrosse Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved 10 March 2019.
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