Although Georgetown field hockey (4-10, 0-5 Big East) did not trail during regulation in its match last weekend, it ultimately fell to the Providence Friars (11-3, 4-1 Big East) in overtime by a score of 3-2 Friday at Cooper Field.
Senior captain and defender Devin Holmes scored both goals for the Hoyas off assists from senior defender and captain Molly Thompson and sophomore midfielder Meghan Parsons. Holmes’ first goal, which came on a penalty corner in the eighth minute, was the lone score in the first half and gave Georgetown its second first-half shutout of the season.
While the Hoyas’ goals came from an experienced veteran player, the Friars saw contributions from three different freshmen. The first came from Providence freshman defender Floor Rozemeijer, who tied the game at one in the 57th minute. Rozemeijer scored unassisted when she put away a rebound with a shot inside the left post.
Holmes retaliated just one minute later, putting Georgetown back on top with a 2-1 lead off a penalty corner nearly identical to her first-half score. However, in the end, the Hoyas could not hang on to their lead, as Providence freshman forward Mikayla Michals scored to force overtime. Her goal came off a feed from junior midfielder Megan Hamilton with under three minutes to go.
Then, just 1:51 into extra time, freshman forward Sylvia Miller clinched the comeback with a low shot under the pads and out of reach of senior goalkeeper Rachel Skonecki. This was Miller’s second game-winner of the season.
Although the final scoreline was disappointing, the Hoyas put up a strong fight against the Friars. Scoring two goals against Providence’s junior goalkeeper Megan Guilbert is impressive, as Guilbert is ranked second in the Big East and 13th in the nation with an average of 1.49 goals against per game.
Holmes’ two-goal showing also marked her first goals of the season, making her the 10th Hoya to find the back of the net at least once this year. She is also active on the defensive end of the field, as she leads the team with five defensive saves.
Despite being outshot 27-8 — 9-4 in the first half and 16-4 in the second half — Georgetown was able to hold a one-goal lead for a large duration of the match, a credit to Skonecki, who kept the Hoyas in the match with 11 saves. She leads the Big East and is ranked fifth in the nation in saves per game, averaging 8.92.
Georgetown will be reliant upon Skonecki and the rest of the back line as it prepares to host No. 1 Connecticut (15-0, 5-0 Big East) next weekend. The Huskies boast a talented squad, as junior forward Charlotte Veitner leads the nation in goals scored, 20, and goals per game, 1.54.
Additionally, redshirt junior goalkeeper Nina Klein leads the nation in goals against average with 0.85 goals, and sophomore forward Amanda Collins is 10th in the nation with 0.69 assists per game.
The Hoyas are set to face off against the undefeated Huskies on Friday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. at Cooper Field.
