The No. 14 Georgetown University men’s soccer team faced the Florida International University (FIU) Panthers in what proved to be an exciting 0-0 draw.
The Hoyas (2-1) took 23 shots, 9 on goal, and created plenty of chances for victory. However, their positive momentum stalled as they struggled to execute in the final third of the field. Georgetown had an excellent chance at redemption in the game’s waning minutes when two FIU (0-3) players were sent off with red cards but unfortunately failed to capitalize on its opportunities.
Having already faced two ranked opponents this season, FIU entered the match winless, hoping to rebound against a strong Georgetown team.
The Panthers made a point of trying to exploit the Hoya backline early on in the game. Nevertheless, team co-captain and junior defender Maximus Jennings anchored the Georgetown defense in the center, bolstering the backline and taking a lead in ball distribution.
In the 9th minute, the Panthers appeared to break away. FIU midfielder Nicolas Villalobos evaded the Georgetown defenders and slipped the ball to forward Enrqieu Minsoli. Tracking the ball closely, Hoya junior keeper Tenzing Manske carefully collected the ball at the top of the box. After this save, Georgetown showed renewed enthusiasm, chasing the ball and playing a high press.
In the 16th minute, the Hoyas won a free kick at the Panthers’ expense. Junior midfielder Zach Zengue found first-year forward Mitchell Baker for a shot just wide of the goal into the outside netting. Not to be outdone, FIU midfielder João Domíngues shot the ball right at Manske on the other side of the field, which Manske expertly deflected away.
Towards the end of the half, the Hoyas found more momentum, connecting passes and building up plays from the back. One of Georgetown’s next chances came in the 39th minute. Sophomore midfielder Mateo Ponce Ocampo played a beautiful cross to Baker, who made a diving header at the edge of the six-yard box. Baker’s shot drifted just left of the post.
The first half proved eventful but disappointing as the Hoyas could not find the back of the net. Rejuvenated, Georgetown came back from the break determined to create more opportunities. The Hoyas won four corners in a row in the 48th minute, but the Panthers defended each one excellently, ultimately denying Georgetown their desired prize.
A few minutes later, the Hoyas created another excellent opportunity. Senior midfielder Blaine Mabie played the ball from the Hoyas’ half up the field to junior midfielder Jack Zengue. Zengue then passed the ball to sophomore midfielder Jack Heaps, who dribbled into the box and shot at FIU keeper Nigel Van Haveren, who saved it. Zengue quickly rebounded the ball and fired another shot on goal, but was once again outmaneuvered by Van Haveren. A mulligan attempt by Zengue missed just right of the goal.
For the rest of the half, Van Haveren remained a nightmare for the Hoyas. Georgetown crafted another chance in the 58th minute as Zengue took a free kick from outside the box. At first, the ball appeared to be sailing towards the back of the net until Van Haveren punched it away. Similarly, in the 77th minute, sophomore midfielder Matthew Van Horn directed a shot to the bottom corner, but Van Haveren extended one hand to push it away.
The intensity of the game came to a head in the 80th minute when the referees sent FIU captain and defender Edgar Aguilar off the field with a red card. The Hoyas, now a man up, turned up the intensity.
For the next ten minutes, the Hoyas created chance after chance but still failed to put the ball into the back of the net. In the 84th minute, Georgetown took three consecutive shots by junior midfielder Max Viera, sophomore midfielder Matthew Helfrich and Van Horn, respectively, all of which were blocked by the FIU defense and keeper.
In the last 20 seconds of the game, referees handed a second Panther, midfielder Juan Pablo Correa, a red card. However, the Hoyas did not have enough time to convert the advantage and ended the match scoreless.
The Hoyas finished the match with 12 corners to the Panthers’ 8. Manske recorded a shutout, tallying two saves on the day. The star of the game, though, was rival keeper Van Haveren, who notched nine saves.
“The guys did a great job of generating chances and their keeper had to make some incredible saves,” Head Coach Brian Wiese told Georgetown Athletics. “It’s a difficult sport to get right, but at the end of the day, this is the third shutout in a row and we’re excited to keep getting better.”
The Hoyas will return to Shaw Field on Friday, September 6th at 4 p.m. to face the Cornell Big Red (1-0).