Atlantic Spotlight, Wk 11

By D3soccer.com Contributor

Twelve Atlantic area schools advanced to the NCAA tournament. Seven squads automatically gained a spot by winning their respective conference championships. Five other schools earned at-large bids.

Here’s a quick look at how the teams got there and who they’ll face in the first round.

CC Johns Hopkins wins, Franklin and Marshall and Gettysburg both get in

The Johns Hopkins Blue Jays (16-2-1) came from behind twice on their way to winning the Centennial Conference Championship against the Franklin and Marshall Diplomats (16-3-0). Down 2-1 through 60 minutes the Blue Jays scored twice in the next 10 minutes and held on for the win. Sophomore Jake Kooyman scored a goal and assisted on the game winner to propel the Baltimore school to their first conference championship since 2009. Junior Xander LeFevre made four saves in goal.

In the NCAA tourney Johns Hopkins will take on the John Jay Bloodhounds (6-10-2), the CUNYAC champion. Franklin and Marshall gets an at-large bid and gets first time NEAC champion Penn State-Harrisburg Lions (15-5-1).

A third CC squad also received an at-large bid. The Gettysburg Bullets (11-7-1) square off against fellow at-large pick, the Oglethorpe Petrels (14-4-0).

CAC Mary Washington over Christopher Newport in PKs

When they played in early October it was a one-sided affair with the Christopher Newport Captains (13-2-4) coming out on top, 2-0. But in the Capital Athletic Conference Championship game the Washington Eagles (13-3-4) stood toe-to-toe with the Captains. Both teams scored early in the contest. It stayed that way through 110 minutes.

In PKs it was all Eagles as Ken Kurtz stopped CNU’s first attempt, their third attempt, and saw their fourth attempt clang off the crossbar. It ended 3-1 with no need to take the fifth.

Mary Washington gets a first-round matchup against the Keystone Giants (13-4-1), the CSAC champion.

Christopher Newport gets the Eastern Eagles (11-9-1), the MAC Freedom champion.

ODAC W&L get by...