After a string of one-goal losses, the Georgetown men’s soccer team had a schizophrenic week. The Hoyas got back on track this past Saturday, defeating Providence (5-4-1, 2-2-1 BE) for their second conference win, but fell to D.C. rival George Washington on Tuesday, dropping to 3-8 (2-4 BE).
Before Saturday, Hoyas Head Coach Brian Wiese believed his team was due for a break. After controlling the game’s tempo and creating chances with well-placed crosses and through-balls, the long-awaited moment finally came in the second half when the Friars tried to clear sophomore midfielder Scott Larrabee’s corner-kick from the right on a header. The ball found Corey Zeller just outside the penalty box to the left, and the midfielder blasted it past goalkeeper Timothy Murray to put the Hoyas on the board.
“It was big,” said Zeller. “We haven’t been finishing our opportunities. The game totally turned around after that first goal. Soccer’s pretty much about finishing your opportunities. We were able to do it today.”
Zeller’s day was not done. Just two minutes later, he earned a penalty kick, thanks to a foul by Friars defender Matt Otte in the box. Zeller confidently lined up a solid shot to the bottom right of the net and added the exclamation point. His play landed him a spot on the Big East Honor Roll for the week.
“You take it when you can get it,” Wiese said of his team’s scoring. “Goals change games and goals give you confidence.”
Providence did add some late pressure, but it was not enough. The defense, this time backed by freshman goalkeeper Matthew Brutto, held tough, thwarting multiple Providence attempts in a late push. His three saves gave him his second shutout of the season. Zeller and Wiese both praised the defense in shutting down Providence’s star midfielder Ryan Maduro, the reigning Big East Offensive Player of the Week.
“You feel like a little bit of a monkey is lifted off your back but you can’t sit and feel so good for yourself,” Wiese said in reference to the team’s next match at George Washington. Georgetown was unable to fend off GW. Scott Larrabee, Chandler Diggs, and Captain Mike Glaccum all tried to spark the offense by creating shots that missed, hit the post, or were stopped by Colonials goalkeeper Matt Scheer.
“We had some point-blank opportunities, we hit a post,” said Wiese. “But at some point, we’re going to have to convert those chances. Good teams will make us pay and GW is a good team.”
The Colonials were on the board within ten minutes in the second half when sophomore midfielder George Garcia found the upper left corner of the goal on an assist from sophomore forward Andy Stadler. Eighteen minutes later, Colonials sophomore midfielder Erick Perez-Segnini fed senior forward Abimbola Pedro on a through-ball for the insurance goal.
Hoyas keeper Matthew Brutto made two saves out of four shots on goal in his fourth start.
Although maintaining a scoreless first half, Wiese was not pleased with his side’s overall play.
“I think it is the first time all season where I didn’t feel good about the game,” he said. We started well for the first 15 or 20 minutes but GW battled and put their stamp on the rest of the game.”
The Hoyas hit the road for another conference match-up at No. 19 West Virginia (6-4, 2-3 BE) on Saturday, where things will not be any easier.
“We looked young and took a step back today,” said Wiese. “We worked so hard in training on scoring and I think our back four didn’t play well. We have to tidy up back there heading to the weekend.”
