Mid-November, the time for post-season play for fall sports has lost some of its magic on the Georgetown campus. With the men’s soccer season at an end and no play-off appearance from football, spectators and fans might be temped to move onto winter sports. There is, however, still something to celebrate this fall.
Obscured by the commencement of the basketball season, another Hoya team made its way into Georgetown sports history this week. On Monday, the Georgetown Women’s Soccer team (14-7-0) was selected the NCAA tournament for the first time in the program’s history. The team competed in the Big East Tournament earlier this month, but fell 2-0 to No. 11 Notre Dame in the semifinals. Despite the upset, however, the Hoyas had an impressive season overall, enough to garner a spot in the tournament.
The team, currently ranked 3rd in the Big East national standings, carried a 6-5-0 Big East record for the season and posted an early season winning streak of five games. They showed strong performances against top teams like nationally-ranked Big East Champions West Virginia, over whom the Hoyas nearly triumphed in regular season play.
The team is unlike any the program has ever seen. Freshmen forward and Big East Rookie of the Year Ingrid Wells came to Georgetown as one of the top recruits in her class. Wells performed beyond expectations, ranking 5th nationally in assists per game and making her way into the Georgetown record books. Tied for first with 2002 record setter Nicole DePalma for most assists in a single season, Wells has 25 goals and holds the second place spot for single-season goals scored behind Jessie Beers-Altman, who set the record in 2002 with 26 goals.
Wells, while a critical factor in the team’s performance, isn’t all the Hoyas have to offer. A strong offensive team, the Hoyas have three scorers with double-digit points, senior forward Sarah Jordan (17), junior mid-fielder Stephanie Zare (15), and sophomore forward Toni Marie Hudson (12).
Defensively, the women keep a tight line at the goal. Throughout their season, Hoya defenders, along with goalies freshman Jackie DesJardin and senior Jade Higgins, rarely permitted more than two goals a game.
This team’s success is a great accomplishment for the University’s athletic program. Having reached their goals of breaking the 12-game record for season wins and making the Big East tournament, the women now turn to the new challenge of taking on the top teams in the NCAA. They face off against William and Mary in the first round of the tournament this Friday. Hopefully their story won’t end here.
