In a physical, well-played Big East Conference game, Senior forward Nate Port’s team-leading eighth goal of the season led Georgetown to an inspired 1-0 shutout victory over defending National Champion and No. 13 ranked Connecticut on Saturday at Harbin Field.
After a fairly even first half in which both teams had an equal number of scoring chances, Georgetown was able to break through the Huskie defense and score in the first minute of the second half. Senior midfielder Andy Sol? dished the ball off to a wide-open Port who dribbled to the top of the box and booted it low past Connecticut goalie Bryheem Hancock at 46:18.
Port’s goal epitomized his spectacular season. He has scored the game winning goal in every Big East Conference victory this year, except for the Providence game, in which he assisted on the game winner.
“I just seem to get in front of the goal and put it away,” Port said.
In sharp contrast to previous games this year, most notably the Hoyas’ 3-2 overtime loss at Rutgers, in which the Scarlet Knights scored in the last five minutes of regulation to tie the game and then again in overtime, Georgetown was able to take the lead and maintain it. The last 10 minutes of the game the Hoyas weathered a strong offensive storm from the Huskies, forcing back Connecticut’s four second-half shots and numerous chances.
“There is no question that [this game] was the best collective team effort all year and probably in a couple of years,” Head Coach Keith Tabatznik said.
Port agreed. “Everyone gave everything they had today. We worked real hard in practice this week and it showed,” he said.
Connecticut’s main scoring chance occurred in the 70th minute. Off a poor restart by Georgetown in their own zone, Huskie forward Damani Ralph controlled the ball and shot it low past Georgetown senior goalkeeper Brian O’Hagan, but it tinked off the far post and eventually the Hoyas were able to clear.
O’Hagan had a characteristically strong game in the net for Georgetown, recording two saves. He also forced Ralph to change the angle of his shot on his scoring chance, resulting in it hitting the post. Connecticut’s Hancock did not have any saves, but he blocked many Hoya corner kicks and crosses, limiting Georgetown to one goal.
The loss was Connecticut’s first since the end of September and its first in Big East play. The Huskies’ record dropped to 8-3-2 overall and 5-1 in the Big East. Georgetown improved to 6-6-1 overall and 4-3 in the Big East. The win also moved Georgetown closer to securing a spot in the Big East Conference Tournament.
“It feels great to beat Connecticut. I think UConn is our biggest rival and we love beating them more than anybody,” Port said.
The Hoyas will travel to No. 21 ranked Boston College this Sunday in another important Big East match. Their next home game will be a non-conference one, Wednesday, Oct. 31 against the University of Pennsylvania at 12 p.m. on Harbin Field.
Tabatznik hopes that the Hoyas’ strong game against a nationally ranked opponent will motivate them for the remainder of the schedule.
“Our team needs to take what this effort did for them and use it as confidence for the rest of the season,” he said.
