Thanks to some timely lightning strikes, the Georgetown University field hockey team avoided losing its season opener in Davidson, N.C. against the Davidson Wildcats. The Hoyas found themselves down 5-1 at halftime, with senior captain and midfielder Sophie Towne scoring the lone Hoya goal before the game was declared a no contest.
This gave Georgetown (0-1) a second chance to start the new season on the right foot in Boone, N.C., facing off against the Appalachian State Mountaineers (2-0).
Unfortunately, the team squandered the opportunity. The Mountaineers held the Hoyas scoreless on just five shots, four of which were on goal. When the final buzzer rang, the scoreboard had the Hoyas losing 3-0.
While the two teams found themselves knotted in a tie after 15 minutes of play, the first quarter served as an accurate bellwether for the rest of the match. Early on, the Mountaineers’ defense stifled the Hoyas, who failed to record a single shot. While the Hoyas failed to advance the ball, App State took advantage on offense, firing off a total of 8 shots, 5 of which were on goal. A bright spot for the Hoyas came in the form of sophomore goalkeeper Ella Fahey, who made 5 saves in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Georgetown’s offense started to find a spark. Senior midfielder Elena Leahy and junior forward and midfielder Sydney Yodh put shots on goal within 7 seconds of each other. Although Mountaineer goalkeeper Claire Grenis saved both, their offensive momentum was encouraging.
However, Georgetown’s advantage did not last as they withstood an offensive onslaught by Appalachian State. For the first 8:30 of the second quarter, Georgetown would bend but not break, with Fahey recording 4 more saves.
Eventually, the Hoya defense succumbed to the Mountaineers’ pressure, with App State forward Charlotte Bosma, assisted by midfielder Grace Ball, scoring off a penalty corner.
Appalachian State continued to pepper the net with shots, ringing off 5 in the next 1:31 before doubling their lead off the stick of midfielder Kassie Paul.
Heading into halftime, the score stood in favor of Appalachian State at 2-0.
Unfortunately, the third quarter remained much the same for Georgetown. Appalachian State dominated possession for the first 10 minutes. The Hoyas did not record a single shot, while the Mountaineers recorded 7 before forward Henriette Stegen netted the game’s third goal.
Georgetown recorded only one shot in the entirety of the third quarter; a shot that was blocked coming off the stick of junior forward Ellie Johnson.
Of note, Fahey would break her career-high for saves by the end of the third quarter with 18, topping the 17 she previously saved on Sept. 22, 2023, against the University of Connecticut.
Early in the fourth, Georgetown generated several more chances in front of the Appalachian State net. Sophomore midfielder Izzy Lee took a penalty corner, allowing Leahy an opportunity. Grenis saved her shot, but Lee recovered the rebound quickly and took another shot. However, Grenis saved this one too, shutting down the Hoyas’ short surge of momentum.
That would be all the offense that Georgetown could muster, as Appalachian State went on to record 4 more shots before the game’s end. Fahey finished with 21 saves.
The loss marks the third straight year that the Hoyas have failed to secure the season opener, and the third consecutive match lost to Appalachian State. Last year’s season began with a 7-game losing streak, one in which Georgetown’s goal differential was an ugly -20.
Georgetown will look to get into the win column on Sept. 6, when they travel to Lock Haven, Pa. to battle the Lock Haven Bald Eagles. Last season, the Hoyas defeated Lock Haven 4-2 for their first win.
