In its second Big East game of the year, the No. 7 Georgetown men’s soccer team (6-1-4, 1-0-1 Big East) played to a scoreless draw at home against the No. 12 Marquette Golden Eagles (6-2-1, 0-0-1 Big East). The regulation 90 minutes and two 10-minute overtime periods were not enough to separate the two favorites for the Big East title.

It was the seventh match in a row in which Marquette had not conceded a goal while it was the third straight shutout for Georgetown. With the defensive records of each side considered, the 0-0 draw seemed like a fitting result.

“Marquette’s a good team; they [had not] conceded a goal in six games,” Head Coach Brian Wiese said. “We’re on a shutout streak, and I think [it seemed like] both teams decided they wanted to keep that shutout streak, and they shook hands and said ‘alright, that’s it.’”

As the game began, neither side was able to jump out to keep possession or dictate the pace of play. The Golden Eagles did, however, create the best chances of the first half, which were, ultimately, most of their best chances in the game. Junior defender Joshua Turnley preserved the tie when he blocked a shot after senior goalkeeper and captain Tomas Gomez could not clear a cross out of the 18-yard box. Then, in the 26th minute, a chipped shot from the right side of the field by Marquette hit the outside of the left goalpost before being cleared out.

“Tomas had to make a couple of really good saves and some frightening moments. They had sort of a funny cross into a crossbar. Marquette poses some really unique challenges of how they play,” Wiese said.

The Georgetown defense settled in the second half with the exception of a handful of shots. The Hoyas threatened the most, with junior forward Brandon Allen, sophomore midfielder Bakie Goodman and senior midfielder and captain Tyler Rudy, all having opportunities to put the team ahead.

Although the attack-minded players had most of Georgetown’s shots, it was a center back who had one of Georgetown’s most promising offensive plays of the game. Sophomore defender Joshua Yaro intercepted a pass and pushed into Marquette’s half before passing the ball. Instead of returning to his position, Yaro continued to run and received the ball again before sprinting past the defense. With several unmarked Hoyas waiting for a pass into the box, a Marquette defender pulled Yaro down, earning a yellow card but also ending the threat.

“Most people wouldn’t expect [an attacking run] when a center back wins a ball,” Yaro said. “[They think] ‘well, he is either going to play a pass back or just play up.’ So it is kind of a surprise. You just go up and no one expects it, and there is always space.”

The two overtime periods passed without either team creating any real opportunities, and the game ended with both teams earning the single point in the Big East standings.

“Nobody likes ties, but they are better than a loss. So it is one of those things where you are lamenting some missed chances, but you’re also saying, ‘Boy, [the other team] coulda, woulda, shoulda,’” Wiese said.

Georgetown will carry more than just the point against, arguably, the strongest Big East opponent it will face this year into its game at DePaul on Saturday. The Hoyas’ backline returned to full strength in the second half and in overtime, as junior defender Cole Seiler played the last 70 minutes of the game. Seiler had missed the last two games due to injury but was replaced by senior defender Jared Rist. With both Seiler and Rist, who won Big East Defender of the Week last week, available, Yaro feels confident in whomever he is playing alongside.

“The guys that come from the bench, they come on and bring something new, and there is always the same standard. If not, they actually raise the standard when they come into the game. I think that’s one thing we have as a team that most teams don’t. We have such a deep team that anyone who comes on is good enough to play,” Yaro said.

Georgetown will play its next Big East match against DePaul (4-5-1, 1-1-0 Big East) on Saturday. Last year’s game was a 6-0 rout in favor of the Hoyas, and the Blue Demons are coming off a 4-0 loss to Villanova. Nevertheless, Wiese believes that the game could be just as challenging as the match against Marquette.

“Tying Marquette, there is no shame in it. We are not going to sit here and cry rivers because we could not take care of those three points, but there’s very little room for error in the league. Each game and set of points becomes massive for its own set of reasons,” Wiese said.