The No. 7 Georgetown men’s soccer team will begin its postseason journey in Philadelphia tonight when it takes on the Providence Friars (11-4-2, 6-3-0 Big East) in the Big East tournament semifinal. The Hoyas (13-4-1, 6-2-1 Big East), who won the Big East regular season title after defeating Villanova in their last regular season game, earned the top seed in the tournament and a first round bye.
The fourth-seeded Providence faced the fifth-seeded Creighton in the first round on Tuesday. In the win, the Friars survived a late offensive push by the Bluejays and held onto the lead for the 2-1 victory. This was Providence’s second consecutive win against Creighton, as the Friar’s defeated the Bluejays in their regular season finale.
“[Providence is] maybe as hot as anybody in the country,” Head Coach Brian Wiese said. “Anybody who can beat Creighton two times in a row is very good.”
The most recent matchup between Georgetown and Providence occurred on Oct. 9 in Providence, R.I. Freshman midfielder Bakie Goodman scored the lone goal in the game, giving the Hoyas the 1-0 win. Wiese knows that the win earlier in the season does not guarantee an easy semifinal. In the teams’ first meeting, the Friars seemed to have an advantage at times, especially on offense.
“Every opponent you play, they all cause their own angst,” Wiese said. “Providence was an incredibly hard game.”
Georgetown will look to improve upon last year’s Big East tournament, as last year’s was both a success and a disappointment for the team. It marked the first Big East championship appearance for the Hoyas and strengthened the team’s resume for the NCAA tournament. The championship game itself left a bitter taste in many mouths. Georgetown conceded a goal to Notre Dame at the end of the second overtime. Ten players who made appearances in that match remain on the roster for the 2013 campaign.
“Looking back, it’s not a great feeling. We’ll be thinking about that and putting all the efforts on the field,” sophomore forward Brandon Allen said.
In tonight’s game, the Blue and Gray’s defense will look to continue their dominant ways. The Hoyas lead the nation in shutouts with 12, averaging less than half of a goal allowed per match. The Providence offense, however, has averaged over a goal-and-a-half a game and will pose a challenge for the Hoya back line. In order to post its 13th shutout, the defense will need to control Providence’s freshman midfielder Julian Gressel, who leads the team in goals and assists.
The Georgetown offense will also hope to continue its scoring ways in the postseason. Led by Allen and senior forward and captain Steve Neumann, both of whom have goal totals in double digits this season, Georgetown has scored 36 times in 18 games. The Hoya offense will look to exploit holes in a Friar defense that has allowed an average of just over one goal a game.
Though key players, like freshman defender Joshua Yaro and Neumann, have missed time at various points in the season with injuries, the full squad is healthy for tonight’s game.
“Everyone is available and back again and playing well. Not only are they healthy, there is a real sharpness to them, even the reserves,” Wiese said.
Fortunately for the Hoyas, the match will be played on a neutral site and not at Providence. Three of Georgetown’s four losses this season occurred on the road, while the team was undefeated in Big East home games. PPL Park, the stadium of the MLS Philadelphia Union is, of course, a much nicer venue than college teams are accustomed to.
However, PPL Park will feel a bit like Shaw Field. A group of Georgetown fans will be travelling from the Hilltop to cheer on the Hoyas as they take the first step on the postseason road. An early exit to Providence in the Big East tournament could derail high hopes for a team ranked as high as second in the nation this year, so both coaches and players are prepared for a long, grueling match.
“It’s going to be tough to find a way to win,” Allen said. “We have to play together and come together as a team and press and find ways to win.”