Hoya Staff Writer Friday, September 15, 2006 Lindsay Anderson/The Hoya

After slogging through a listless season start, which featured several draws and and a loss against lesser competition, the Georgetown women’s soccer team (3-1-3) is finally coming together – and at the perfect time, too. The Hoyas defeated American 2-0 on Wednesday at American’s Reeves Field. Georgetown played lethargically in the first half against the Eagles (4-2-0), then emerged from the locker room re-energized, similar to last Sunday’s 3-0 win against George Washington. “This last win was great for us,” Head Coach Dave Nolan said, “We’re starting to get people to step up and that’s just what we need, especially with the Big East schedule coming up.” Junior goal keeper Jade Higgins recorded her third shutout of this season and added to her school record which now stands at 16. The disappointing first half performance was due more to changes in the lineup than the Hoyas’ play. Facing a brutal gauntlet of competition that included three games in five days, Nolan made the adjustments he thought were necessary to keep his team fresh for the start of the Big East schedule on Friday against Villanova. “Steph [sophomore midfielder Stephanie Zare] has played every minute of ever game at center-midfield,” Noland said, “And we had to rest Elaina Filauro and Laura Snyder who have basically been playing hurt.” Senior midfielder Alexandra Hardy has played center-back this season, directing the defense and focusing on stopping opposing players before they reach Georgetown’s 18-yard box. Against American, Nolan called on her to move up the field to fill in for the missing offensive starters. “It was good to keep Ali in an offensive state of mind because sometimes this season with the though games we have, we may need her to step up,” Nolan said. While Hardy never found the back of the net, last year’s top scorer and senior midfielder Chrissy Skogen and junior forward Sarah Fetters provided all the firepower the Hoyas would need. Assisting both of them was sophomore forward Brittany Berry, who has been in the offensive mix all season long but had yet to tally a point this year. Fetters’ goal was her second in as many games, quite a feat for a player who had only one goal in her previous two seasons on the Hilltop. “Sarah is very dangerous. Very lively. She’s a very clever player,” Nolan said, “She can beat you in many ways.” Her two goals this year could not have been more different. Against George Washington, she sent a perfectly timed kick over the defense that curved deceivingly away from the keeper. Against American Fetters was set-up by Berry for a golden one-on-one opportunity with the goalie from 12 yards out, placing the Eagle defender in very compromising position. Skogen scored her third goal of the season, a promising sign for Nolan who believes she had been pushing too hard earlier in the year. “With being a senior and the last year that she had, maybe Chrissy was trying to do too much,” Nolan said. The stellar performance of the defense, which had been inconsistent coming into the American game, was reassuring to Nolan. “Jade hasn’t been the problem,” Nolan said, “There are a few she and her high standards would have liked back but three shutouts in the last four games is good.” The Hoyas have outscored their opponents 10-6 so far this year and 5-1 in their last three games. This weekend takes them to Villanova, Pa. where they will face off against top-25 team and Big East rival Villanova. The Wildcats are currently standing strong at 7-0-0 and have only allowed one goal this season. Nolan said `Nova’s field would be a “hostile” environment but that the momentum his Hoyas have gathered may be enough to earn at least a draw from the match. Georgetown is 0-1-2 against Villanova in the last three years. After their 4 p.m. face-off with the Wildcats on Friday, the Hoyas return home to play James Madison at 1 p.m. Sunday.