Two steps forward, one step back. So it goes for Georgetown, which beat Richmond and Manhattan by scores of 1-0 in both games in the DC Invitational last weekend, but fell to James Madison by a score of 2-1 on Tuesday in Harrisonburg, Va., to drop to 2-1 in the season.
“We had our share of opportunities,” Hoyas Head Coach Dave Nolan said. “James Madison was a better team than the other two, though.”
James Madison (3-0), ranked sixth in the Mid-Atlantic region by Soccerbuzz, jumped to an early lead in the 29th minute when freshmen Cate Tisinger received a pass behind Georgetown’s defense and slipped a shot past Georgetown’s freshmen goaltender Jackie DesJardin.
“It was a different speed than the other games. They were fast and physical,” freshmen midfielder Ingrid Wells said. Wells leads the team with three points in the young season.
The Hoyas were not without their fair share of chances, however. In the first half they recorded six shots and had four corner kicks, but were only able to manage one shot on goal in the half.
The second half did not start any better for Georgetown as it fell behind 2-0 in the 69th minute on a goal by James Madison junior forward Megan Deaver. Deaver received a long pass into the box, but her initial shot was stopped by DesJardin. Deaver got the rebound and sent it into the back of the net to give the Dukes a two-goal lead.
It was only the second goal given up in three games by the freshman goal keeper who has filled in for the injured Jade Higgins. Higgins holds the school records for shutouts and is one of the best keepers to tend net on the Hilltop, but DesJardin is not intimidated by the task.
“I learned a lot from Jade and Naomi [Meiburger], our goalkeeper’s coach,” the freshman said. “I was a little nervous, but tried not to let it affect me. I usually handle pressure well.”
The Hoyas got on the board in the 79th minute when senior midfielder Sara Jordan scored her first goal since 2006 from 23 yards out to cut the lead to 2-1. Jordan sat out last season due to illness, but has quickly reestablished herself as the pivot of Nolan’s offense.
“Sara is a tremendous player who has great soccer savvy. She’s a very explosive player, has great pace, and can strike the ball well with both feet,” Nolan said. “I was happy to see her score against JMU because she’s been very unlucky so far, hitting a few cross bars and some posts. I expect her to put in quite a few goals this season.”
Jordan was just as relieved as her coach to score the goal.
“I was a little frustrated in the first two games not getting a goal because I thought I had some good chances. So it was nice to get that first one,” the senior midfielder said.
Jordan’s shot was only the second shot on goal for the Hoyas.
In the Richmond game last Friday, Georgetown recorded 10 shots on goal to the Spiders’ three, but needed an Ingrid Wells goal in the 62nd minute to break a scoreless tie. The Manhattan game was very similar as Georgetown again recorded 10 shots on goal compared to Manhattan’s one, but only senior forward Sarah Fetters was able to score en route to the 1-0 victory.
Nolan said he is not worried about his team’s limited offensive production.
“We’re going to open the can of whoop-ass on somebody soon,” he said. “It may be tomorrow, it may be Sunday, but we are going to explode for goals against somebody because we are creating too many chances and have too many good players that can do that.”
Today, at the George Mason Invitational, Georgetown faces George Washington (4-0), off to their best start in years. Last season, the Hoyas defeated the Colonials 3-0 behind goals by Fetters, senior defender Karen Waskewich and midfielder Shante Cofield (COL ’07). The rivals square off tomorrow at 5 p.m. in Fairfax, Va.
The Hoyas play Stony Brook (2-0) at noon on Sunday in the second game of the invite.
