Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

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Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

WOMEN’S LACROSSE | Caputo Leads GU in 2 Wins

JULIA HENNRIKUS/THE HOYA
JULIA HENNRIKUS/THE HOYA

Two weeks ago, the Georgetown women’s lacrosse team was in trouble. An April 1 defeat to Pennsylvania marked the Hoyas’ sixth straight loss, and what had started out as a season full of promise seemed in danger of slipping away. However, a 12-5 victory over Marquette temporarily stopped the bleeding, and now a two-game weekend sweep of Connecticut and Rutgers has put Georgetown (6-7, 3-1 Big East) back on firm footing.

The Blue and Gray defeated Connecticut (8-5, 3-1 Big East) 11-10 on Friday. Although the game was evenly matched throughout, the Hoyas were able to pull ahead when it mattered. Then on Sunday, the team travelled to Piscataway, N.J., where it took down Rutgers (7-7, 1-3 Big East) 15-10.

On Friday, in Georgetown’s first game of the weekend, the Huskies came out strong, scoring two goals in the first four minutes of play. The Hoyas were able to answer with one of their own as senior midfielder Kelyn Freedman tallied her first of the game off a free-position shot to cut the lead to one.

From there, Connecticut opened up what would be its largest lead of the game. Thanks to a balanced scoring attack, the Huskies were able break down the Hoyas’ defense three times in eight minutes and jump ahead 5-2.

However, Georgetown would not be deterred, and with 14 minutes left to play in the first half, the Hoyas went on their biggest scoring run of the day. Sophomore attack Corinne Etchison, freshman attack Colleen Lovett, junior attack Sammy Giordano and senior midfielder Courtney Caputo all chipped in goals as the Hoyas seized a 6-5 lead.

JULIA HENNRIKUS/THE HOYA
JULIA HENNRIKUS/THE HOYA

Head Coach Ricky Fried was impressed with the contributions from various players.

“I think the biggest thing is that we didn’t have to rely on one or two players, everybody is a threat and everybody is dangerous,” Fried said.

Connecticut managed to score one more goal and the teams went into the locker room knotted at six.

In the second half, the Huskies came out aggressively and scored within two minutes of the opening whistle; however, the Hoyas answered with a 4-1 run to take a 10-8 lead. The run included two goals from both Freedman and Lovett, which accounted for each player’s third goal of the game.

Connecticut tallied one of its own to cut the lead to one with 10 minutes left, but Caputo answered less than a minute later to bring Georgetown back to a two-goal lead. The Huskies added the last score of the game, but the Hoyas were able to hold on to the 11-10 lead.

For Fried, the tight victory could not have come at a better time.

“I think it’s a huge confidence boost for us, it’s been a while since we’ve won a close game,” Fried said. “I think we were able to play a little bit lighter after that, and I think that showed in the start of the game and carried on through most of the game for us against Rutgers.”

Fried’s assessment was accurate. as Georgetown jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the first 14 minutes of the game against Rutgers on Sunday and led 9-3 at halftime.

The second half saw much of the same result until the last seven minutes of play. Georgetown went on a 6-3 run to start the half, but Rutgers dominated the last minutes of play, ending the game with four unanswered and ultimately fruitless goals. The Hoyas added a check in the win column as they coasted to a 15-10 unanswered and ultimately fruitless goals. The Hoyas added a check in the win column as they coasted to a 15-10 victory.

Senior attack Reilly Woodman, senior attack Meghan Farrell and Caputo all recorded hat tricks for the Hoyas.

For the second straight game, freshman goalie Maddy Fisher took the win in the net with seven saves. It was her third win of the season.

Although it seems Georgetown has officially bounced back from its mid-season funk, Fried still sees plenty of room for the Blue and Gray to improve.

“The bigger piece for us is trying to focus on continuing to improve. It’s not that we’re going to get any better skill wise, necessarily, or tactically, but [what matters is] our concentration level and being able to maintain a level of play for a period of time,” Fried said. “We strung together a lot more minutes than we have in the past [against Rutgers] and I think that’s something that we’re really going to be able to build on.”

Georgetown will look to stretch its winning streak to four when it plays host to Big East rival Villanova on Thursday at 2 p.m. on the MultiSport Field.

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