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The Johns Hopkins Blue Jays are the sixth Division I team to unveil their 2018 schedule and the second Big Ten team to do so. The Blue Jays will try to give seniors Shack Stanwick and Joel Tinney a championship ring, and the program’s first since 2007.
Here’s the entire 2018 schedule:
Johns Hopkins’ 2018 Schedule
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes | Last Year's Meeting(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes | Last Year's Meeting(s) |
| 1/27 | Johns Hopkins | High Point | Scrimmage | |
| 2/3 | Marquette | Johns Hopkins | Scrimmage | |
| 2/10 | Towson | Johns Hopkins | 13-8 L | |
| 2/17 | Johns Hopkins | Loyola | Battle of Charles Street | 14-13 W/OT |
| 2/24 | North Carolina | Johns Hopkins | 13-5 W | |
| 3/3 | Princeton | Johns Hopkins | Unranked Princeton defeated #3 Johns Hopkins at home 18-7 last year | 18-7 L |
| 3/10 | Johns Hopkins | Syracuse | 8-7 L/OT | |
| 3/13 | Johns Hopkins | UMBC | 15-5 W | |
| 3/17 | Delaware | Johns Hopkins | ||
| 3/24 | Johns Hopkins | Virginia | 18-17 W/OT | |
| 4/1 | Johns Hopkins | Rutgers | Big Ten | 12-6 W |
| 4/7 | Ohio State | Johns Hopkins | Big Ten | 13-9 L, 15-13 L |
| 4/14 | Johns Hopkins | Penn State | Big Ten | 13-11 W |
| 4/21 | Johns Hopkins | Michigan | Big Ten | 19-9 W |
| 4/28 | Maryland | Johns Hopkins | Big Ten (Homecoming) | 12-5 L |
One notable absence are the Navy Midshipmen. The Midshipmen are not on the regular season schedule for the first time since 1949 due to scheduling conflicts, according to Blue Jays head coach Dave Pietramala and Midshipmen head coach Rick Sowell.
Let’s check out some notable games on this schedule:
Best Non Conference Game: @ Syracuse
I would do a disservice to this site if I did not say Syracuse. This is the best college lacrosse rivalry hands down, don’t @ me on Twitter, don’t send me hate mail, no. This game went into overtime last year because of Joel Tinney diving into the crease and the Orange scoring late in the fourth quarter, which was totally the right call. There might be a surprise in store for this game as well.
Best Conference Game: @ Rutgers
The Big Ten opener could be the most important conference game the team plays this season. As many people know, including ACC folks, the Big Ten conference was the best lacrosse conference last year. A loss in conference play could mean missing out on the Big Ten tournament. Hopkins doubled up on the Scarlet Knights last year easily and ended up getting into the conference and NCAA Tournament. Rutgers sat home.
Under The Radar Game: vs. Delaware
Before writing my answer, I asked “are there really any under the radar games? It’s Johns Hopkins.” There’s really none that pop up, except for maybe Delaware? The Blue Hens replace Navy on the 2018 schedule and they have some young talent, especially at attack. New head coach Ben DeLuca knows Pietramala from their one year of working together on the Cornell coaching staff. Oh, and the Blue Hens upset then-No. 1 Rutgers last year too.
Possible Upset: @ Michigan
The Wolverines finished above .500 for the first time ever thanks to a really kind nonconference schedule, but they went winless in the Big Ten once again. With the Wolverines having Kevin Conry as head coach after spending time with the Terrapins and emerging talent, could this be the year Michigan makes a statement in the Big Ten?