The soccer season has just started, but for the Hoyas, it’s time to finish.
Georgetown could not find the back of the net on numerous scoring chances in 1-0 losses to Tulsa Friday night and Southern ethodist Sunday afternoon at the Mi Cocina Soccer Classic in Dallas.
“It was a good trip at the end of the day, we just got bad results,” Head Coach Brian Wiese said. “It was frustrating because we got plenty of chances, but we couldn’t put it in the net.”
The Hoyas (1-3) came out sluggish on a muggy Texas evening and gave up a goal in the third minute to the Golden Hurricane of Tulsa (3-1). Senior forward Todd Goddard notched his third goal of the season on assists from senior midfielder Eric Burkholder and freshman midfielder Chris Taylor.
“After the first 25 minutes, we settled down and played good soccer,” Wiese said. “We had the ball in their half for 60 minutes and got back on their counterattacks.”
Georgetown earned five corner kicks in the second half to only one in the first. While they were outshot 7-6, the Hoyas put four shots on goal to the Golden Hurricane’s two, but Georgetown could not beat senior goalkeeper Dominic Cervi, as he made all four saves en route to his first shutout of the year.
After the match, the Hoyas watched No. 8 SMU (2-0-1), their Sunday opponent, rout No. 3 Virginia (4-1-0), 5-1.
“SMU dismantled Virginia. They looked like world beaters Friday night,” Wiese said.
With the Mustang offense hotter than the Texas sun, Wiese made sure all his players had defense on their minds. Senior goalkeeper Joe Devine made eight saves, and Georgetown held the potent SMU offense to one goal – a 25-yard strike from senior midfielder Gabe Arredondo in the 35th minute.
The Mustangs attempted 16 shots, but the number is deceiving, according to Wiese.
“We never let them get behind us,” Wiese said. “All their shots came from distance. Joe [Devine’s] work was routine except for one fabulous save.”
The save Wiese is referring to occurred late in the match to keep the margin one. An SMU shot deflected off of another player and Devine had to abruptly change his direction and go against his body to make the save.
Mustang Head Coach Schellas Hyndman, in his 24th year with the program, said that the Hoyas came out “an inspired team.”
“The game against Georgetown was tougher [than SMU’s game against No. 3 Virginia] because they played a defensive game,” Hyndman said. “Georgetown has a lot of youth so they got 11 players behind the ball defensively.”
But the Hoyas were unable to score, as has been a problem all year. The Hoyas have netted only one goal in four games this season.
Wiese was not bothered by the sputtering offense, however, because he felt his squad had the best three scoring chances of the game.
The best chance, according to Wiese, occurred five minutes into the match, when senior forward Mike Glaccum sent a long ball through to junior defender Sean Bellomy. Bellomy’s effort was stopped by what Wiese called a “world-class effort” from senior goalkeeper Steve Sandbo.
“They had good tactics,” Hyndman said. “They would dump the ball and try to get the second ball, and they did it well.”
Two members of the Hoya defense, sophomore Len Coleman and freshman Robert Burnett, were named to the all-tournament team.
Georgetown’s backline has allowed five goals in four games, and four were given up against teams ranked in the top-25. No. 23 UNC Greensboro scored three against them to go along with the one SMU scored.
Three Hoyas were able to play in front of friends and family as they traveled home to Texas. Freshman forward Chandler Diggs, Bellomy and Burnett all started Friday night and each saw action Sunday afternoon.
As Georgetown gears up for their Big East opener at Connecticut this Saturday, the Hoyas will have to focus on finishing their scoring chances. The Huskies are ranked 15th in the nation and have not allowed a goal in their three victories this season.