The Georgetown men’s soccer team pulled the monkey off their back on Wednesday, ending a four-game winless skid which spanned over two weeks, with a 1-0 overtime win over Villanova on the road. The win lifts the Hoyas’ overall record to 5-3-1 and their Big East mark to 2-2-1. Additionally, the win bumped the Hoyas into a seventh-place tie with Providence in the Big East standings.

Junior forward Nate Port scored the game’s only goal in the sixth minute of overtime off a throw-in from freshman midfielder Carl Skanderup.

Port ranks second on the team in scoring, with three goals.

Port’s goal aside, the Hoyas are having enormous difficulties putting the ball in the net as of late, managing only two goals in their past four games.

According to Head Coach Keith Tabatznik, however, this dearth of goals is not due to a lack of opportunities.

“The positive thing about it all is that we’re creating chances,” he said. “As long as we continue to create chances, the goals will come.”

Although Hoyas’ offense has come up short, their defense has nearly compensated. Led by sophomore goalkeeper Brian O’Hagan and senior captain Jeff Boehling, the defense has surrendered only three goals in the same four-game stretch. O’Hagan has tallied 47 saves so far this season, six coming against Villanova. The win also marked O’Hagan’s third shutout.

Tabatznik lauded the defense’s second shutout in four games.

“They had a well-earned shutout,” he said. “It’s never easy to get a shutout, especially on the road in the Big East.”

All aspects of the game considered, Tabatznik believes, “The most important part about the game was getting the W.”

This Saturday, the Hoyas play host to one of the nation’s biggest surprise stories this season. Predicted to finish 10th in the Big East this season in the conference’s preseason poll, the Pittsburgh Panthers roll into Georgetown ranked ninth in the country. Tabatznik and the Hoyas are already anxious about the game.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to come out at home and play a great game and get a good result, he said.”

Georgetown will face Pittsburgh Saturday at 1 p.m. on Harbin Field.

Related Links

 Men’s Soccer Schedule

 Men’s Soccer Roster