Georgetown Earns Two More Victories

By Julie Wood • October 24, 2000

The Georgetown field hockey team brought home a pair of victories this weekend, winning a close battle with SUNY Albany, 3-2, in which freshman back Elena Elster netted her third hat trick of the season and shutting out LaSalle, 3-0.

On Sunday, Georgetown faced a clearly inferior 3-10 LaSalle squad. The Hoyas got off to a quick start where freshman forward Shelly Samperton netting a goal at 6:48. Samperton’s second goal of the season came on a rebound off Elster’s shot, which hit the post.

Freshman forward Leeanne Rizzo scored next, at 15:59. She was assisted on her 17th goal of the season by senior midfielder Caitlin McLean. The score at halftime was 2-0.

The final goal of the game was scored by Rizzo 19 minutes into the second half on the rebound of Elster’s penalty corner shot.

Sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Herring had four saves in the shutout, her sixth of the season. Explorer goalie Julie Hope had 11 saves.

“We clearly dominated, but we didn’t finish the ball,” Head Coach Laurie Carroll said. According to Carroll, “the Hoyas played well defensively and on transition, but they were lacking at the attacking end.”

“This effort won’t be good enough on Wednesday [against Villanova]. We’ll have to play more inspired,” Carroll said.

On Saturday, Georgetown pulled off a comeback win against SUNY Albany, powered by Elster’s three goals and junior back Bridget McConnell’s stellar play.

The first half belonged to the Great Danes. Junior forward Angie Stegal scored first at 11:57 and again at 18:58 to give the Danes a 2-0 halftime lead.

“We didn’t have an attacking mentality. We weren’t playing together,” Carroll said of the team during the first half.

In the second half, McConnell turned things around by taking the ball the length of the field on a breakaway.

Carroll identified McConnell’s fast break as the turning point in the game.

“That attitude was contagious. After that, we played inspired. We played like we know the Hoyas can play. Then the scoring started,” Carroll said.

Elster put the Hoyas on the board at 47:48 when she netted a penalty stroke. The penalty was drawn by junior forward Aubrey Bruggeman, who lifted a shot on goal, forcing one of the Danes to block it with her hand. After Elster’s first goal, the Hoyas’ momentum continued, and they managed to convert a penalty corner less than two minutes later. Bruggeman and Rizzo assisted Elster on the goal. The same penalty corner unit scored the game-winning goal at 57:58. Elster continues to lead the Hoyas in scoring with 20 goals.

“At a time like that when you need scoring, you want the ball in her hands,” Carroll said of Elster.

Georgetown continues its homestand tomorrow as it faces Villanova at 3 p.m. on Kehoe Field.