GU Blanks Pair in Solid Weekend Play

This weekend, the Georgetown women’s soccer team took care of business at home, disposing of both UNC-Wilmington and divisional-rival Seton Hall by a score of 2-0 in each contest.

On Sunday, the Hoyas got their first Big East Mid-Atlantic win in dominant fashion against the Pirates. Seton Hall was coming off a 6-0 loss to Notre Dame, the top-ranked team in the nation, but was 3-1 in divisional games. However, Georgetown put together its best 90-minute performance this season to overcome the Pirates.

“The team played some of the best 90 minutes that have been played in the program’s history,” Head Coach Diane Drake said. “It was a great team effort, and we showed great composure and rhythm.”

Senior midfielder Liz Delgado got the eventual game-winner 19:46 into the first half off a pass from sophomore forward Karin Ostrander. The goal gave Delgado a team-leading 20 points this season. But the real story of the first half was the Hoya defense, which held the Pirates’ inexperienced front line to just one shot. Only last week, Georgetown gave up five goals in one half to James Madison. But this weekend, with the help of a more conservative strategy based on zone defense, the unit clamped down and helped greatly in shutting out two opponents.

“[Freshman midfielder] Alyssa Conlow was awesome,” Drake said. “She helped anchor the defense with [sophomore defender] Casey Hoffman.”

Conlow was also key to Georgetown’s offensive strategy; she penetrated from the defense and became a midfielder to add pressure whenever the Hoyas had possession of the ball.

The Hoyas added another point to the board in the second half, this time from Ostrander. Off a corner kick from junior forward Kelly Haden, Delgado headed the ball to Ostrander, who headed it past the Pirates’ goalkeeper for a 2-0 lead. Ostrander, who was still hampered by a hamstring injury that limited her play the past week, tallied her eighth goal of the year.

“Karin Ostrander played a great game even though she’s at 90 percent of her ability now,” Drake said. “She’s a very special player, and has the ability to turn games around.”

Junior goalkeeper Shereena Chang got her first shutout of the year, stopping five Seton Hall shots.

The Hoyas began the weekend in grand fashion, defeating UNC-Wilmington, 2-0, on Harbin Field. With many of the players’ parents watching in the stands, the Hoyas did not disappoint. Only 4:28 into the game, Ostrander got the first of her two goals this weekend off a free kick from Conlow.

With the help of a change in defensive strategy, the Hoyas prevented any offensive attempt by the Seahawks, who were called for 23 fouls.

Georgetown added even more to the UNC-Wilmington’s frustrations when, at the 60:12 mark, junior defender Alyson Smith scored her third goal of the season off an assist from Haden.

“Ali was awesome today,” Drake said. “She’s kind of the quiet, unsung hero of the team.”

Senior goalkeeper Emily Main stopped four shots to get her fourth shutout of the season.

The Hoyas will have to take advantage of every bit of their momentum when they take the field against No. 1-ranked Notre Dame on Friday at 4 p.m. on Harbin Field.

“It was a huge weekend for us and the result will set the tone for future divisional games,” Drake said. “We have Notre Dame, and we got nothing to lose. At this point of the season, I wanted us to be peaking and that’s where we are at now.”