Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

Georgetown University’s Newspaper of Record since 1920

The Hoya

WOMEN’S LACROSSE | Georgetown Offense Explodes Against Eagles

With its offense firing on all cylinders, the No. 13 Georgetown women’s lacrosse team (5-4, 1-1 Big East) defeated visiting American (6-5, 2-1 Patriot League), 17-11, Tuesday night and moved above .500 on the season.

The Hoyas scored eight straight goals in a nearly perfect first-half stretch, which proved to be the difference maker.

“Overall you have to give American a lot of credit. They played hard until the very end,” Georgetown Head Coach Ricky Fried said. “[But] offensively I thought we shot really well, and I feel like defensively in the second half we really stepped it up.”

Fried has stressed all season that the Blue and Gray were capable of shooting better than they had been. The team clearly picked up on the message against the Eagles — 23 of their 30 shots were on net.

“We moved the ball, we played at speed, we were aggressive and we played the way we were capable of playing,” Fried said of the scoring streak.

But it wasn’t just the offense that carried the Hoyas to victory under the lights. The defense was strong throughout, forcing 21 American turnovers on the night.

Sophomore goalie Barb Black posted an impressive 10 saves, arguably her best showing of the year. Junior defender Ashley Hunter also helped anchor the defense, notching two ground balls and forcing one turnover.

“I give a lot of credit to Barb. [Her saves gave] us a lot of momentum on the defensive end,” Fried said. “Ashley played really well in the second half. She was picking up ground balls, clearing the ball, and she even got a shot.”

Georgetown opened the scoring with a goal by sophomore attack Jody Cumberpatch but fell behind after three American goals. However, freshman attack Caroline Tarzian found the net eight minutes into the half to spark the Blue and Gray scoring streak.

The Eagles fought back, though. With a little help from several penalties called on Georgetown, American scored five goals in the last eight minutes of the half to cut the deficit to 11-8.

But the Blue and Gray responded quickly out of intermission with four straight goals and never looked back. Junior attack Dina Jackson, sophomore midfielder Hannah Franklin, junior midfielder Sophia Thomas and Tarzian all scored within the first five minutes of the second half, expanding the lead to 15-8.

After trading goals, junior midfielder Kelsi Bozel put the Hoyas up seven with eight minutes left to close out the Eagles.

American added another goal at the seven-minute mark, but Georgetown prevailed, 17-11.

Bozel led the team with four goals. Tarzian and grad student attack Kristen Coleman both tallied three, while Cumberpatch led the team with two assists.

“[Kelsi] was very decisive today, she took shots early and they went in. So I thought she played a very good game in that sense,” Fried said. “I thought the midfield as a whole played well.”

Fried recognized the significance of the win in getting his team back above .500 going into the thick of the conference schedule, but remains focused on the challenge posed by Connecticut (6-2, 0-1 Big East), whom the Blue and Gray take on Friday.

“UConn kind of stands in our way, so we need to make sure we take care of business and have a whole team effort,” he said.

The Hoyas and the Huskies face off at 4 p.m. today at MultiSport Facility.wlax

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