After defeating No. 9 Notre Dame for the first time in history on Saturday, the Georgetown women’s soccer team lost to Big East rival Villanova 2-1 yesterday, ending the Hoyas’ seven-game win streak. Georgetown’s record now stands at 8-4 overall and 3-1 in the Big East.
Villanova struck first, scoring in the 15th minute on a 10-yard shot from sophomore forward Laura Johnson. Later in the half, the Hoyas countered. Junior forward Courtney Shaub put in an unassisted goal from the upper left corner of the box and the score at halftime was even at one. While the Hoyas had quality scoring chances to start the second half, it was Villanova who put in the game winner in the 61st minute from senior midfielder Cary Morrell.
The low-scoring Villanova game was in sharp contrast to the offensive explosion in the Hoyas’ 4-3 win on Saturday. Hoyas’ junior forward Jessie Beers-Altman and Irish junior forward Amy Warner each scored a hat trick. Beers-Altman put in the game winner with only 24 seconds left. The Hoya forward was named Big East Co-Offensive Player of the Week for her efforts, the second time this year she has won the honor.
“I think the better team won today,” said Head Coach Diane Drake after the win. “I wouldn’t normally say that against the team the caliber of Notre Dame, but we had the better chances. I just knew we had them on the ropes.”
Warner started off the day scoring, blowing by two Hoya defenders in the eighth minute and hitting it low past junior goalie Alexis George. Georgetown struck back seven minutes later, as sophomore forward Casey McCann beat Irish sophomore midfielder Sarah Halpenny to a long ball in the box and drew out first-year goalie Erika Bohn. McCann deflected her shot off Bohn and it fell right to sophomore midfield Nicole DePalma who put the ball in the net and evened the score at one.
“After six straight wins we felt we really could come out and beat them,” said McCann. “We were all so confident.”
Beers-Altman and Warner traded goals to end the half with the score tied at two.
The Irish came out roaring to start the second half, keeping the ball in the Hoyas’ end for most of the first 25 minutes. Finally, Warner put in her third of the day in the 63rd minute after receiving a long ball from first-year defender Amber McMillin.
The Hoyas tried to counter, forcing the ball in the Notre Dame zone but it looked as if the Irish would pull out the victory.
“For a while when it was 3-2 I wasn’t sure if we were going to come back,” said Drake.
In the 80th minute, junior midfielder Lauren Calone kicked a through ball to a streaking Beers-Altman, who dribbled around Bohn and tapped it in to tie the game at three.
Two minutes later however, it looked as if Warner would win the game for the Irish. Off a Notre Dame counter attack, she dribbled in all alone against George and fired it low. George charged, dived out and made a remarkable, sprawling kick-save to keep the Hoyas in the game.
“I was thinking that she better not score,” said George. “I already let in three and it was time for me to at least touch one. I just wanted to shoot my body and I hoped that I would hit something.”
“It was when Alexis made that holy-shit-unbelievable kick save that I knew we were going to pull through,” said Drake.
Beers-Altman nearly put the game away in the 83rd minute kicking the ball past Bohn, but Irish sophomore defender Candace Chapman struck the ball away on the goal line.
However with 24 seconds left, Beers-Altman sealed the victory with certainty. Off a cross she knocked a header that bounced past Bohn and into the net.
“I couldn’t believe it when the ball went in,” said Beers-Altman. “The game was definitely the highlight of any soccer moment for me.”
Beers-Altman has already had plenty to be excited about this season. After her efforts in the Notre Dame game she stood second in the Big East in points and goals, had already broken the Hoyas’ single season scoring record for goals and ranked third in career goals and points.
Georgetown’s next game is Saturday in Piscataway, N.J. against Rutgers at 7 p.m.
