The Georgetown women’s soccer team has made it back into the Big East Tournament this year with a number three seed in the National Division, their third consecutive top three finish. In this position, the Hoyas will bypass the play-in game, allowing the team more time to focus on the quarterfinals and opponent St. John’s.
“Games have been coming fast and furious,” head coach Dave Nolan said. “Friday, Sunday, Friday, Sunday, then you travel like this past weekend. [The bye] gives us a chance to let people physically catch up a little.”
The team planned on taking it easy on Tuesday, letting those players who logged the most minutes over the weekend rest. Come Wednesday, however, the team dove into preparing for St. John’s.
“We are going to hit it pretty hard,” senior defender Norah Swanson said of the preparation for the game this Sunday. “We will be focusing on how we can beat them: what are our strengths, what are their weaknesses.”
The two teams have not met since last season. This season, seniors predominated on the Red Storm, but while St. John’s senior class will do everything in their power to finish on a good note, they aren’t what concerns Georgetown. The Hoyas are focused squarely on the style of soccer the Red Storm plays.
“They are very soccer oriented and very possession oriented,” Nolan said. “They are one of the better soccer playing teams in the conference, but the beauty of that is that they are also a team that lets you play soccer … as opposed to the teams that just try to stop you doing what you do. That is something that I am looking forward to. [St. John’s head coach] Ian [Stone] is a great coach, and his team has always played the game the right way.”
One of the greatest difficulties the Hoyas face against the Red Storm is the field itself. Throughout the season, the team has struggled on artificial turf like that at St. John’s, tying Seton Hall in September and losing to DePaul this past weekend. The Hoyas, who play on grass at home, will practice on turf this week. But as each field is different, so is each turf.
“The turf changes things,” Swanson said. “It’s a different surface. The ball moves faster, but I think we can handle that since we are a good passing team.”
Right now the team is on the bubble of the NCAA tournament. Beating St. John’s is a requirement for consideration, according to Nolan, and going on to beat Notre Dame could seal the deal. Despite a disappointing loss to the Fighting Irish this past weekend, Nolan remains confident about a rematch.
“There is nothing I saw in South Bend this weekend that will have me scared about going and playing Notre Dame,” Nolan said.
There is also the possibility that the team the Hoyas would face after St. John’s will not be Notre Dame. Other teams have been pushing up against the once dominant Fighting Irish, including Marquette, the number one seed in the National Division.
“This year is going to be the year that is the most open Big East ever,” Nolan said. “Any of the teams in the tournament can win it this year, which is nice and exciting.”
