The Georgetown women’s soccer team (6-8-1 overall, 2-4-1 BE) ended its five game winless streak in stunning fashion Tuesday afternoon, downing the Liberty Flames (4-8-0 overall, 3-1-0 Big South) 4-1 on a rainy, overcast day at North Kehoe Field.
From the first minute it did not seem like the Hoyas had any intention of winning the game. Only 10 minutes into the game Liberty senior midfielder Lauren Zealand converted on a free kick, shooting the ball past Georgetown first-year keeper Jade Higgins and into the back of the net.
“We came out flat and not ready to play,” Georgetown Head Coach Dave Nolan said. “The first goal frazzled us and the girls didn’t believe things would turn around. You could see it in their body language out on the field.”
For the next 60 minutes, however, the Hoyas controlled the ball and limited Liberty’s opportunities, out-shooting the Flames 25 to seven and putting 14 shots on goal to Liberty’s three. However, Georgetown did not get on the board.
“We were getting frustrated because we are a better team then we were showing,” senior midfielder and captain Nicole DePalma said. “We were in a hole after the first goal and it started to remind us of the Syracuse game.”
In that game, the Hoyas were down after only three minutes. They dominated the rest of the contest, out-shooting the Orange women 19 to six. But as has often been the case this season, Georgetown could not convert its chances and ended up losing 2-0.
With time winding down in the Liberty game, the Hoyas’ persistent effort paid off. Georgetown scored four unanswered goals in the final 20 minutes of play to get in the winners’ column. The Hoya comeback began with DePalma’s successful penalty kick off a handball that tied the score at one.
Only six minutes later, junior forward Shara McNeill generated a quality scoring chance for the Hoyas as she fired a shot off Liberty goalkeeper Sonia Rodriguez that was put away by senior forward and captain Casey McCann for the go-ahead score.
McNeill added another assist when sophomore midfielder Chrissy Skogen headed her cross into the net in 81st minute. DePalma’s second goal only four minutes later on an assist from first-year midfielder Sarah Fetters sealed the victory for Georgetown. For all that has been made about Georgetown’s inexperience and youth, the team’s senior captains accounted for three of the Hoyas’ four goals.
“Two or three girls really stepped up for us,” Nolan said. “The senior captains led the team and pulled everyone along with them.”
“When I looked up at the clock I knew I just had to push as hard as I could,” DePalma said. “Everyone looks up to us and we realize that we only have a couple of games left so we need to make the most of our opportunities.”
DePalma made the most of her opportunities, converting two of her three shots on goal. Noticeably slower than normal and at times limping across the field in the second half, McNeill was involved in three of Georgetown’s four goals, and credited with assists on two. McNeill sustained a leg injury in the 27th minute and came out of the game.
“Shara is one of the most explosive forwards in the conference,” Nolan said. “I always drive her not only to be the best on her team, but to be the best in her conference because she has the heart and commitment to do so.”
After this convincing victory against a non-conference opponent, the Hoyas have three more games to make the Big East tournament as one of the top eight teams. The Hoyas are currently tied for eighth in the Conference. Georgetown plays Seton Hall (7-7-2 overall, 2-6-0 BE) at home on Friday and travels to West Virginia (13-3-0 overall, 7-2-0 BE) on Sunday, followed by a make-up game in Pittsburgh (6-7-1 overall, 2-4-1 BE). With only two Big East wins already under their belt, every game is extremely important if the Hoyas wish to earn a spot in the quarterfinals.
“Our next game is a definite must-win,” DePalma said. “Hopefully we can continue the last 20 minutes of this game against Seton Hall.”
The Hoyas will have a chance to continue their offensive assault against Seton Hall at home on Friday at 2:30 p.m.
