After taking fifth place in the Big East last year, the Georgetown’s women’s soccer team is coming off of its best finish ever. Head Coach Dave Nolan, however, knows that his team can do better.
“Last year we got out of the gate very slowly,” Nolan said. “We never really established what our best lineup was, and the kids never really established consistency to play 90 strong minutes early on in the season, so we lost some games that we honestly shouldn’t have.”
This year, the Hoyas hope to get over that early-season hump and advance into national contention. Nolan said that if the team can advance into the final four of the conference tournament and finish over .500 in non-conference play, Georgetown “should be in strong consideration for an NCAA bid.” Considering that the Hoyas (9-9-1 overall, 5-4-1 Big East) were one rank below the top four and had a 4-5 record in non-conference games, the team’s goals appear attainable.
With the Big East’s expansion, the 16 women’s soccer teams have been split up into two divisions of eight, and Nolan said that “there’s no reason why we shouldn’t look to finish, realistically, at least second,” with only Notre Dame, the defending national champions, blocking the way to the top.
That does not mean, though, that this season will be a breeze.
“There are no easy games in the Big East,” Nolan said. “Every team on its day can basically play any other team as tough as possible.”
Georgetown proved that last year when it beat then-No. 9 West Virginia, tied then-No. 18 Villanova and nearly upset No. 1 Notre Dame, if it were not for a final-minute Irish goal.
Although the newest teams in the conference are ranked below the Hoyas, they will still pose a challenge since “they’re an unknown commodity,” Nolan said. Conference USA expatriates Cincinnati, DePaul and Louisville will play in Georgetown’s division, along with Notre Dame, Rutgers, Seton Hall and Villanova.
“It’s a ridiculously tough conference. It’s a dogfight every game,” Nolan said. “So sometimes it’s just a matter about having injuries or no injuries, good looks and bad looks, good referees and bad referees, that will separate a team that’s a 7-11 team [from] an 11-7 team.”
Nolan said that the biggest strength of the 2005 Hoyas is their depth of talent. Though losing midfielder Nicole DePalma (COL ’05), a second-team all-Big East selection, will hurt, Nolan said that this year is “probably the first time in a long time we don’t have just one or two players” to carry the team.
Freshman midfielder Stephanie Zara was expected to fill DePalma’s shoes, but she may miss the entire season with a broken leg, according to Nolan.
Forward Brittany Berry, a freshman coming from next-door Georgetown Visitation, will make an immediate impact on the team. Nolan said that she and junior midfielder Chrissy Skogan should create a lot of offense together.
Though Georgetown is a young team, with the 15 underclassmen outnumbering the six upperclassmen, seniors Ashley Darcy and Shara cNeill will have to make their experience count. Darcy, a defender, is this year’s sole captain, while forward McNeill is a three-time all-Big East selection.
Though there is a lot riding on Georgetown’s performance in Big East games, the Hoyas have to focus on the out-of-conference opponents to build up the early momentum and confidence that Nolan wants.
“We need to get a culture where every time you cross the white line to play or to practice, you must bring intensity,” Nolan said.
Georgetown opens the season at home, facing Bucknell at 1 p.m. tomorrow on North Kehoe Field. Wednesday, Villanova comes to town in an unusually early conference game. The Hoyas play host to the Wildcats at 3 p.m., also on North Kehoe.
