NORTHFIELD, Minn. – After 90 taut minutes at Bell Field, the Carleton College women's soccer team and the No. 5-ranked Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays ended on equal terms. The two reigning NCAA tournament teams posted a second-half goal apiece for a 1-1 draw.
 
The Knights (0-0-1) received votes in the preseason United Soccer Coaches national poll, while Johns Hopkins (0-0-1) was slotted fifth in the country. Carleton had just two first-half shots, but did hold the 29th-best offense in D-III last season to just one shot on frame. That shot was the best opportunity for the traveling Blue Jays, a header from forward Natalie Smith off a corner that drew a diving save from junior Avery Trapp.
 
Claire Burbery floated a header off of the crossbar in the 62nd minute, as a first half that saw two teams that had never met in NCAA play feel each other out gave way to a more free-flowing second. Johns Hopkins had a few more attempts on net, but a new-look Carleton backline kept the visitors from taking shots inside the 18.
 
In the 76th minute, Mia Anzalone played a one-touch pass to Lauren Caldwell in the midfield, who laid a line-breaking ball into the path of Kathryn Kresse. Kresse cruised into the box alone and slotted into the near corner for the opening goal, the 26th in her career. That moves her into a tie for third-most goals and points (67) in Carleton women's soccer history (see chart below).
 
After the restart the Blue Jays responded with a flurry. The run from Hopkins concluded with Kei Kitamura tapping to Carolyn Johnson, who turned into space from 25 yards out and unleashed  a net-bursting shot in the 80th minute, scoring to tie the game.

Neither team was looking to simply draw, and both created threats in the final 10 minutes. Burbery finished a counterattack by forcing a fingertip stop from Blue Jays 'keeper Emma Anderson, and the visitors' Lena Olbrys hit the far post with a long effort in the 85th minute. Neither team could break the deadlock, concluding a draw that lived up to its billing.
 
Trapp made five saves in the match for the Knights, her 10th career game with five or more saves.
 
The draw extends an eight-season streak without an opening-match loss for Carleton, with their most recent season-opening defeat coming in 2017.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton concludes a back-to-back against Carthage College tomorrow, August 31. Kickoff is set for 11:00 a.m.
 
Carleton Women's Soccer Career Points Leaders
1. 89 – Birungi Mutebi (40g 9a) – 1998-01      
2. 69 – Niki Tomita (30g 9a) – 2008-11
3. 67 – Cate Patterson (23g 21a) – 2019-2023
3. 67 – Kathryn Kresse (26g 15a) – 2022-pres
 
Carleton Women's Soccer Career Goals Leaders
1. 40 – Birungi Mutebi – 1998-01
2. 30 – Niki Tomita – 2008-11
3. 26 – Nora Mertz – 2016-19
3. 26 – Kathryn Kresse – 2022-pres