After their difficult loss to Santa Clara last Sunday, the Georgetown women’s soccer team was able to rebound with a 1-0 victory over crosstown rival George Washington.
The Hoyas slightly outshot the Colonials 5-4 in the first half, and the teams tied on corners and saves. Ultimately, however, Georgetown was able to deliver the game’s decisive goal near the end of the first half.
With six minutes remaining, Georgetown substitutes Toni Marie Hudson and Samantha Baker teamed up to get the Hoyas on the board. Baker received the ball on the left side of the field and sent a cross into the box, where an outstretched Hudson was able to get her foot to the ball and send it into the back of the net, giving Georgetown a lead they would not relinquish.
“Toni really busted it today. At the end of the half, she came on and got the goal, and then, during the start of the second half, she really came out and set a good tone for us,” head coach David Nolan said.
The momentum from the goal allowed Georgetown to dominate the game at the beginning of the second half. The Blue and Gray turned up the pressure on George Washington’s defense with several corner kicks and threatening opportunities on goal. Georgetown’s assault reached its peak when junior Michaela Buonomo’s shot knocked off the crossbar in the 53rd minute.
The Hoyas doubled George Washington’s shot total in the second half by an 8-4 count. Georgetown also dominated corner kicks, receiving eight while George Washington received none. Nevertheless, even with dominant ball possession, the Hoyas could not convert on multiple opportunities.
Junior keeper Jackie DesJardin was able to keep Georgetown’s lead safe with four saves on the game, despite some eye irritation.
“Jackie played well today, and she had the thing going on with her eye at halftime,” Nolan said. “She got that taken care of at halftime and made a big save today during the second half when GW really had their best scoring chance against us.”
The shutout was DesJardin’s fourth of the season. It was also the Hoya keeper’s twentieth career clean sheet, tying Jane Higgins for the Georgetown career shutout record.
The Hoyas have now pushed their record to 4-1 on the season. Their next game is Sunday at 1:00 p.m. against Robert Morris at North Kehoe Field.
