Over the past few years, the Georgetown women’s soccer team has been a program on the rise. After qualifying for its first- ever NCAA Tournament in 2007, the team reached the Elite Eight in 2010 and then won its first Big East regular season championship last year. But on Saturday afternoon, the Hoyas did something they had never done before: played an NCAA tournament game at Shaw Field.
Backed by a strong show of support from students and fans on a chilly afternoon, No. 20 Georgetown (16-2-2, 7-1-1 Big East) scored a goal in each half to defeat La Salle (15-5-3, 5-2-1 Atlantic-10) 2-0.
There was an intensity in the air at Shaw Field that had been absent for other matches this year, as each team realized that the 80 minutes of competition could be its last until next August.
“It’s one of those games where if you lose, your season is over, and for your seniors, your career is over,” Head Coach Dave Nolan said. “There’s far more to it, and there’s far more nerves for both teams because there’s far more at stake.”
Georgetown came out firing on all cylinders and nearly broke through only two and a half minutes into the match when a corner kick was cleared of the La Salle goal line by a defender.
The Explorers, appearing in their third consecutive NCAA Tournament, did not back down and generated a handful of chances, including a strike by senior midfielder Renee Washington from nearly 40 yards out that sailed just over the Georgetown crossbar.
“We knew they were going to come out strong,” senior defender Emily Menges said. “The last two times [La Salle] made the tournament, they played Maryland and UVA so Dave really pressed on us that they were coming here thinking, ‘This is finally a game we can win.'”
In the 28th minute, senior forward Colleen Dinn took the ball down the left side of the pitch for the Hoyas and hit a low, hard cross towards the near post. La Salle redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Wiggins appeared to be in good position to make the save but fumbled the ball giving junior forward Vanessa Skrumbis all the space she needed to knock the ball into the back of the net and give Georgetown a 1-0 lead.
The Hoyas controlled possession after the goal but could not tally another before halftime, and the teams entered the locker room with Georgetown up by one.
The fans were still making their way back from the concession stand at the start of the second half when a La Salle midfielder was whistled for a handball near midfield on the left touchline. Senior defender Mary Kroening stepped up to take the free kick for the Hoyas and lofted a ball into the box. A La Salle defender managed to get her head on it, but gave the ball right to sophomore midfielder Marina Paul who unleashed a powerful strike into the side netting of the goal. Just over a minute into the second half, it was 2-0 Georgetown.
“[That goal] was huge,” Nolan said. “I do think it ultimately took the wind out of the sails for them. [La Salle Head Coach Paul Royal] is a master motivator, so I’m sure his halftime speech was about going for it in the first 10 to 15 minutes. For us to get that goal, it’s kind of like their players are like, ‘Well, how much do we have to go for it now?'”
The two-goal lead proved to be more than enough for the Georgetown defense. The unit has received a boost in the last week from senior defender Alexa St. Martin, who is back in the lineup after missing nearly a month due to injury.
“We have a greater level of comfort [with St. Martin],” Menges said.
La Salle managed to generate some possession on the Georgetown side of the pitch but never had a shot on goal. The score line held, and the Hoyas emerged with a 2-0 victory.
After the match, both Nolan and Menges spoke of the importance of playing at Shaw Field, where the Hoyas have now gone 21 straight games without a defeat.
“It was really important to have home-field advantage,” Nolan said. “You’re familiar with things, and there are less distractions.”
“Home-field advantage kind of trumped the experience factor for us,” Menges said. “We were more comfortable than we’ve ever been in the first round of the NCAA.”
Georgetown does not have long to dwell on the victory however. The Hoyas are set to play No. 1 Virginia (21-1, 13-0 ACC) on Friday night in Charlottesville, Va., in what is sure to be their most difficult match of the season.
But as Nolan reminded his players after the game, the Hoyas upset No. 1 Maryland on the way to the Elite Eight in 2010. Georgetown’s entire season has led them to this point, and it is positioned to make another deep tournament run.