This weekend, the Georgetown women’s soccer team prepares for its last home stand of the year. After downing Cincinnati on Sunday 4-0, Georgetown comes into this weekend’s games with the taste of victory after dropping their previous two games to conference foes.
The Hoyas (11-3-1, 4-2-1 Big East) take on the Pittsburgh Panthers on Friday at 3 p.m. and the No. 18 West Virginia ountaineers on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games are on North Kehoe Field.
Coming into the matchup, the Panthers (2-8-3, 1-4-2 Big East) have the worst-ranked offense in the league, accumulating only six goals in 11 games. While they may be poor defensively as well, allowing 191 shots on the year, Pittsburgh senior goalkeeper Jamie Pelusi’s .808 save percentage ranks fifth in the Big East – just behind Georgetown’s sophomore keeper, Jade Higgins.
Despite the potent Hoya offense, Pittsburgh Head Coach Sue-Moy Chin said, “We’re not going to sit back and bunker. We’re going to play soccer. I have confidence in Jamie and my defense, and we hope to create some scoring opportunities.”
Pelusi, the reigning Big East keeper of the Year, has three shutouts on the year and is capable of turning in a clutch performance any day of the week.
“She has improved tremendously, her fitness is so much better, her reading of the game is a lot better, too,” Chin said.
Panther freshman midfielder Jennifer Kritch and junior midfielder Corina Sebesta lead the team in both points and goals this season, each tallying two goals and two assists. The dynamic duo has accounted for half of the Panther’s offensive output.
Speaking about Pittsburgh’s few wins and waning hopes, Georgetown Head Coach David Nolan said, “This last weekend is going to be make or break for a lot of teams. I think we’re going to face Pittsburgh in their do-or-die situation where they have to win.”
On Sunday, the Hoyas take on theNo. 18 West Virginia ountaineers (8-3-3, 5-1-1 Big East). Although winless on the road, West Virginia has not lost a game since Sept. 11, and two of their three losses come against national title contenders Portland and Virginia.
“We always come to play West Virginia. We beat them out there last year. I’ve been talking to the West Virginia coaches, and they’re calling this payback weekend,” Nolan said.
Although West Virginia is known as a traditional powerhouse, the team has stumbled. Games last year against Georgetown and Villanova and this year against Pittsburgh.
West Virginia Head Coach Nikki Izzo-Brown’s emphasis on maximum individual effort is reflected in the fact that two players, senior midfielder Marisa Kanela, and sophomore forward/midfielder Ashley Banks share the team lead in goals with four.
“I just look for everyone to step up and finish their chances,” Izzo-Brown said.
Offensively balanced, the Mountaineers also sport the league’s best defense, allowing nine goals in 14 games this season as well as holding opponents to 99 shots, and, impressively, five over their last two games. Amid national prestige and a sure berth in the NCAA tournament, Izzo-Brown said of this weekend’s matchup, “We all have a lot of respect for Georgetown and are looking for a tough battle this weekend.”
On the final home stand of the year with one game against a team with one conference win and another game against a national powerhouse, Nolan said, “I always feel we have a chance no matter who we play when we’re at home. West Virginia has a tradition of success, of winning, and we’re not quite there yet. We’ll get there.”
The Hoyas look to build on their current success toward a Big East tournament berth – and perhaps more.
Georgetown’s final two regular season games are Friday in Chicago against DePaul at 3 p.m. and Sunday in South Bend, Ind. against Notre Dame at 1 p.m.