Joining a squad which returned the majority of its starters from last fall’s magical run to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament, it would have been easy for freshman Daphne Corboz to gradually ease her way into the Georgetown starting lineup, patiently waiting for her time to come.

From the beginning of preseason training, however, it was clear that the 5-foot-2 midfielder from Greenbrook, N.J. had no such intentions. The competitive Corboz quickly staked her claim to a starting spot in the midfield alongsideredshirt senior Ingrid Wells and senior Kelly D’Ambrisi. Fourteen games into the Hoyas’ season, the freshman has 14 starts to her name.

“A lot of freshmen come in just looking to sit and watch, and take what’s given to them. Daphne went out and earned her spot in preseason,” Head Coach Dave Nolan said. “She’s a competitor. … Like Ingrid and like Kelly, she does her talking with her feet. She’s come in, and she’s hit the ground running.”

Nolan — who also coaches locally at youth clubs in nearby Bethesda, Md. — took notice of Corboz’s prowess from the opposing sidelines, as his club team encountered hers on a number of occasions. Creative, fierce and displaying knowledge of the game, the midfielder’s style of play reminded Nolan of that of the All-American Wells.

“I need a player who has many of the same attributes as Ingrid, which Daphne has,” Nolan said. “[I like] clever soccer players who have great technical ability but wonderful tactical knowledge and have the attitude that they’re competitors.”

Nolan recalls an early preseason practice in which Corboz came head-to-head with her senior counterpart during a scrimmage. While players sometimes shy away from challenging the intimidating Wells, Corboz refused to back down.

“Some kids don’t want any piece of that, but Daphne’s such a competitor in her own [way]. … I think the other [players] kind of caught up on that,” Nolan said. “It was very easy to see on day one that Daphne could play with these kids, so she got their respect right away.”

Corboz has tallied 13 points, fourth-best on the team, and is one of only four players to start every game. The freshman is tied for second on the team with six goals, her first strike coming in Georgetown’s home opener against American. Most recently, Corboz contributed a goal and an assist in Friday’s 6-0 defeat of Pittsburgh.

Still, the budding star remains humble about her role on the team.

“To get the opportunity [to start] has been great, and hopefully it continues, but as long as I keep contributing to the team and the team keeps doing well, that’s all that matters,” Corboz said. “College soccer [is] a lot more physical and a lot faster. The transition was helped by a lot of upperclassmen. … They’re always there to support me or encourage me on the field.”

In addition, Corboz has noticed that the progression into Big East play has heightened the stakes with each passing game.

“I found a big surprise in the Big East — there was a big difference between the conference games and the non-conference games. … It becomes a lot more aggressive,” Corboz said. “It just has a greater meaning when you’re [playing] in the conference.”

The freshman’s observations will hold especially true this afternoon, when the notoriously physical and intense Cincinnati Bearcats (5-5-4, 1-3-2 Big East) come to the Hilltop.

“They’re a high-pressure, in-your-face, fight-for-loose-balls kind of team,” Nolan said. “If we stand up to their physical element, I’d like to think that we’ll be in good shape. But they do battle with you, and every game we’ve played with them over the years has always been a tough battle.”

While the Hoyas employ a more possession-oriented approach to the game, the Bearcats’ offense is more direct.

“Their style is to get the ball forward quickly and to battle with you in your final third, instead of maybe trying to build the ball around and be a little bit more patient,” Nolan said. “They play the percentages. The more times they put the ball in your box, the more times they think they’ll get something from it.”

The Blue and Gray have been wracked by injury all season, but sophomore centerback Emily Menges— who needed to be helped off the field during Sunday’s win when she aggravated a pre-existing Achilles injury — is set to return today.

Wells, who became the first Hoya ever to break the 100-point barrier over the weekend, will rejoin the Blue and Gray after a week spent training with the U.S. National Team in Los Angeles.

As for Corboz, her role on the team is now more defined than it was when the season started. So far, she has been executing her responsibilities impeccably.

“I hope I’m an attacking aid to everybody else and that I’m able to keep the flow of play going, go at people and create things and hopefully get some goals too,” Corboz said.

The Hoyas are 5-1 all-time against the Bearcats, with the only loss coming on the road. They have won the past four meetings.

Kickoff for Friday’s clash with Cincinnati is set for 3 p.m. at North Kehoe. Georgetown then concludes the homestand with a 1 p.m. game against Louisville Sunday.