The Georgetown University women’s soccer team delivered an impressive performance Sunday afternoon, powering past the Marquette University Golden Eagles in a clean 4-0 swoop. 

The team honored senior and graduate players Eliza Turner, Maja Lardner, Claire Manning, Lawson Renie, Erika Harwood, Emily Royson, Anna Karpenko and Cyanne Doyle. 

Junior forward Henley Tippins said the team embraced the excitement of senior night rather than trying to contain their emotions.

“With senior night, there was some natural excitement. Instead of fighting that, we decided to lean into the buzz of the occasion, which ultimately made for one of the most fun games of the season so far,” Tippins told The Hoya.

From kickoff, Georgetown (10-2-4, 6-1-1 Big East) applied heavy pressure on both sides of the field, quickly taking full control of the game. 

In the 17th minute, senior forward Maja Lardner opened the scoring with a bending shot to the far post from outside the box, giving the Hoyas an early lead. 

Lardner said the team’s cohesion and energy were apparent from the opening whistle.

“From the start, we were communicating, working hard and having fun together on the field,” Lardner told The Hoya. “We met all of our goals for the match, and it made the game feel even more special.”

Only six minutes later, junior midfielder Ellen Carter’s long ball found Lardner again, who beat the keeper and defense to get her second goal of the game and 10th of the season. This sequence also gave Carter her second assist of the season. 

In the first half alone, the Hoyas’ offensive dominance was evident as they outshot the Golden Eagles (4-10-3, 1-5-1 Big East) 14-0 and carried a 2-0 lead into halftime. 

Tippins said Lardner’s early scoring helped the team establish dominance, though they remained focused on extending their lead.

“Maja’s early goals were key in taking control of the game early, no doubt,” Tippins said. “We always say that 2-0 is the most dangerous lead in soccer, so our goal at halftime was to score a third goal and put the game away.”

Georgetown came out strong in the second half and continued to assert their control over Shaw Field. 

In the 52nd minute, junior forward Natalie Means set up Tippins for her fourth goal of the season. Tippins turned and slid the ball past the Marquette goalkeeper, extending Georgetown’s lead to 3-0. 

Lardner said the early goals boosted the team’s confidence, though securing the third goal proved crucial for maintaining control.

“Scoring early really helped set the tone. It gave us a spark of energy and confidence to keep pushing,” Lardner said. “But, 2-0 in soccer is always a bit tricky — if they score, the whole momentum can shift. So, getting that third goal was a huge relief and allowed us to stay in control.” 

Georgetown kept up the pressure late into the second half, rattling the crossbar twice in the 66th minute. Remarkably, the Hoya defense only allowed 2 shots from the Golden Eagles. 

“Our defense kept them quiet throughout the game, so although there wasn’t a key defensive play that comes to mind, consistency back there is much easier said than done,” Tippins said.

Moments later, junior midfielder Mary Cochran found the back of the net after passes from Means and Lardner, sealing the score at 4-0. This play gave Means her sixth assist of the season and Cochran her second goal of the season.

Tippins said the victory’s timing was perfect as the team pursues the Big East regular season title.

“I think a win like Sunday’s couldn’t have come at a better time. With our most immediate goal to win the Big East regular season, we’re facing two must-win games in Villanova and Xavier,” Tippins said. “I’m really excited to carry the energy of Marquette into practice this week. I think we might be peaking in conference at just the right time heading into these last two games.”

A win against Villanova could set up a showdown for the regular season crown against Xavier at home. Georgetown will be looking to build on their momentum as they near the end of the regular season and prepare for postseason play.

On the topic of the postseason, Tippins said they will continue to focus on themselves and respect their opponents through typical scouting and preparation on and off the field. 

“Overall though, there’s no need to make major changes. We know what we’re capable of, so we just want to focus on doing our game 100 percent,” Tippins said. “We’ll rest up and go again this week.”

The Hoyas will face Xavier Thursday, Oct. 31, in a pivotal Big East matchup. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m., with live coverage on the Big East Digital Network via FloSports.