Coaches hate to peg the result of a game on luck, but for the Hoyas this season, games are like seeing one black cat after another.
Georgetown (4-7-4, 1-5-1) lost both of its weekend Big East matches 1-0, at Cincinnati on Friday and at No.15 Louisville on Sunday. Further damaging the Hoyas’ chances, freshman midfielder Carlee Birglia, who has played in 10 games this year, will be unable to play for several months, according to Head Coach Dave Nolan, after breaking her ankle in practice last week.
“It was a tough weekend. It was a disappointing weekend,” Nolan said, “disappointing in the fact that we really didn’t get what we deserve.”
Against Cincinnati (6-5-2, 2-3-1), Georgetown fell behind 1-0 early, a death knell for a Hoya team averaging less than one goal per game.
In the 18th minute, Bearcat senior midfielder Becky Imhoff capitalized on a failed Hoya clear of a corner kick and knocked the ball in for her third goal of the year.
After scoring the goal, the Bearcats took a page out of the Italian national team’s playbook and fell into a 4-5-1 formation for the remaining 70 minutes, looking to do no more than defend their precious lead.
“I feel we should have gotten more out of it because we were the team that came to play soccer,” Nolan said. “They had no interest in playing soccer. The never really threatened us, offensively.”
The Cincinnati field also played to the Hoyas’ disadvantage. The old, rough Astroturf surface was unlike anything Georgetown has played or practiced on this year.
“It was a very difficult field to play on,” Nolan said. “It was a small field. Balls were bouncing with all kinds of funny spins off this old field turf they have.”
One week after beating Connecticut at home in their strongest win of the year, Georgetown found itself in a similar situation at Louisville (10-2-1, 5-2-0). Coming off a sub-par performance in a winnable game, the Hoyas found themselves toe-to-toe with the 15th best team in the country playing the best soccer in its school history.
“We’re still excited about every game,” senior midfielder and co-captain Chrissy Skogen said. “Everyone is still giving 110 percent and working hard. We aren’t giving up on this season.”
The Hoyas refused to surrendur, even when facing a supposedly much better, nationally ranked opponent. Georgetown looked like it did against Connecticut and was playing step for step with Louisville throughout the game despite turning to Higgins to make eight saves in the 90 minutes.
It was not meant to last. Senior Jamie Craft, dangerous Cardinal striker and a candidate for Big East offensive player of the year, made her mark in the 89th minute.
Known for her speed, Craft took a pass from junior midfielder onique Gjini and took off, blazing past the Hoya defense and firing a shot directly at Higgins. GU’s keeper again showed her mettle, blocking the shot. The ball, however, bounced directly into Craft and ricocheted into the back of the net for an unconventional game-winner.
“That was like a dagger in my heart. Two good performances and no points,” Nolan said.
Before Louisville’s heartbreaking score, Georgetown thought it had taken a 1-0 lead when junior forward Elaina Filauro knocked in a second-half header. Offsides was called on the play, waving off the goal. After reviewing video, though, Nolan said Filauro was clearly onside.
“We’ve been snake-bitten this year,” Nolan said. “If I felt they weren’t trying, I’d be angry. If I felt we weren’t playing good enough and we were just being beaten by better teams, I’d be angry. But I feel compassionate for them because they come to play every game.”
Unlike last year when the Hoyas had one of the highest scoring offenses in the Big East, even scoring one goal per game has been a challenge this season.
Nolan believes the absence of junior midfielder Sara Jordan, who is not playing due to illness, has disrupted Georgetown’s preseason offensive plans.
“Sara’s being sick has killed us,” he said. “That threw the bulk of responsibility on Chrissy this year and she has had trouble carrying that load.”
From what the players and coached believed could have been an NCAA tournament-caliber season, Nolan is left looking for other positives to take away from the season, as it is unlikely that Georgetown will qualify for the Big East tournament, let alone the NCAA Championships.
“And it’s especially disappointing for our seniors,” Nolan said. “But I told them the other day that if the legacy you leave is we’re the team that never quits, that’s an outstanding legacy to leave for those that come after you.”
The team has not quit yet. After practice on Tuesday as dusk fell over North Kehoe Field, the team was just starting its wind-sprints.
“We’re still out here,” Nolan said, “This late in the season, you may just say, forget about it [the running], but these girls just aren’t going to do that.”
Georgetown plays on Friday at 7 p.m. at West Virginia (11-1-2, 5-1-1), and Sunday at 1 p.m. at Pittsburgh (7-4-2, 2-3-1).
