Diana Clock/The Hoya Freshman midfielder Kevin Sindelar jumps for a header in Wednesday’s loss to Maryland.
The Hoyas’ defensive play could not stop the sixth-ranked University of Maryland, who vanquished Georgetown 2-0 last Wednesday as the team returned home to North Kehoe Field.
Almost 800 fans braved cold winds and gray skies to watch the regional rivals battle in a very defensive contest. Georgetown held the Terrapins to a mere eight shots, and allowed few goal opportunities. Unfortunately for the Hoyas, Maryland’s offense took advantage of these chances and put points up on the board.
“We came in with the focus that we’re going to sit, wait for them, pick off their passes and allow our defense to win the battle and go forward out of the back,” sophomore back Dan Gargan said.
The first goal came in the 17th minute when Terrapin junior forward Nino Marcantonio aimed the ball to the right corner of the goal, but then watched as it ricocheted off the goal post. While the Georgetown junior goalkeeper Tim Hogan dove for the loose ball, aryland sophomore forward Abe Thompson reached it first and shot it into the empty net. Later in the first half, freshman forward ichael Banner, a pivotal member of the Hoyas’ offense for the entire game, nearly tied the game when he launched the ball toward the Maryland goal, but the defenders successfully defended it. The teams departed the field for halftime with the Terps leading 1-0.
“When the ball comes I try to make something happen, but the ball hasn’t come to me often,” Banner said. “The goals will come, just give us time.”
When the teams returned to the field for the second half, Georgetown took its offense up a notch, out-shooting their opponents seven to two. Unfortunately, the team could not capitalize on any of its chances. At the end of the 72nd minute, arcantonio dribbled the ball into the corner, slipped it past the Hoya defensemen where sophomore defender Ian Rodway picked it up and angled it to the right. The ball scuttled past Hogan and into the goal, bringing the score to 2-0.
“We have to feel pretty good about the game. Our biggest issue has been giving up goals. We gave up two goals, but that was against a team that’s one of the top in the country at scoring goals,” Head Coach Keith Tabatznik said.
Georgetown moved forward many times during the final minutes of the game, but the Terps continually repelled their advances, and as the clock wound down the Hoyas knew they had lost. Georgetown dropped its record to 4-7-0 overall, but remained 2-3-0 in the Big East. Maryland improved to 11-2-0 overall.
“We came in with the right focus, so overall it was good. It wasn’t the best, but the game was definitely not as bad as it could have been,” Gargan said.
The Hoyas racked up 12 shots for the game to the Terrapins eight. The teams also played a fairly clean game, with Georgetown committing 10 fouls and while Maryland perpetrated 17.
Banner and sophomore midfielder Kevin Sindelar led the offense with three shots apiece, while Thompson and Rodway headed the Terps’ offensively, each firing off two shots. Tim Hogan sat in goal the entire game, making his 40th and 41st saves while allowing two goals. Maryland sophomore goalkeeper Noah Palmer recorded a shutout, stopping three balls for a total of 38 saves this season.
The Hoyas look to break their two-game losing streak at North Kehoe Field this Saturday at 1 p.m. against Big East challenger Villanova.
“We’re entering a really important week for this whole season. We have to take Saturday’s game like it’s a championship game. I actually think that the guys are going to feel positively going into the game [Wednesday] despite losing,” Tabatznik said.
Gargan expressed his views on the upcoming Villanova game more simply.
“I want to kick their a-.”
