After an impressive post-season performance against Old Dominion University (11-6-1 overall), expectations were high for the Georgetown University men’s soccer team. The Hoyas had lost to the ODU Monarchs in an exhibition game at the beginning of the season and looked to change their luck after a surprise defeat in penalty kicks in the semi-finals of the Big East tournament at the hands of the Providence College Friars.
Despite a well played 3-0 win over ODU, Georgetown’s post-season came to a screeching halt this past Sunday as they lost to the Michigan State Spartans (14-5-3 overall) 1-0 in the round of 16. Even though his team may be out of the tournament, Georgetown Head Coach Brian Wiese is taking it all in stride.
“I don’t have any regrets about the game at all. It was some of the best soccer we’ve played all year in terms of getting the ball forward. We had them pretty much suffocated. They played an entire 30 minutes in their own half. We were undone by a dangerous free kick that came off of a sort of random handball. That’s where the frustration is. It was a bad result, but we played well.”
The Hoyas started Sunday’s game off strong with two excellent chances aided by sophomore forward Brandon Allen that only slightly missed the mark. As Allen warmed up, so did his offensive teammates. Georgetown dictated the run of play, resulting in two excellent chances from junior midfielder Tom Skelly and sophomore defender Keegan Rosenberry, both of whom were palmed away from the MSU goal for corner kicks.
The Hoyas were undone in the 28th minute when a shot in the box following a free kick was deflected onto the foot of MSU midfielder Adam Montague, who subsequently fired the ball back into the box, past sophomore goalkeeper Tomas Gomez and into the back of the net. The Hoyas couldn’t respond as the half closed out and the teams went into the break with MSU leading 1-0.
The Blue and Gray came out swinging in the second half with Rosenberry firing a number of crosses into the Spartan box, narrowly missing Georgetown heads every time. The Hoyas continued to probe for a chance on net, but the Michigan State defense was resolute, packing it in and allowing few scoring opportunities. Despite the Hoyas’ best efforts, their season would end at the final whistle.
MSU will continue to the quarterfinals for the first time in 45 years. The Spartans will play the winner of Sunday’s match between Notre Dame and Wake Forest.
The Hoyas bowed out of the NCAA Tournament boasting a record of 14-5-2 in all competitions and won the Big East Regular Season Championship for the third time in four years.
One who might wish the season had ended a little further into December is senior forward Steve Neumann, a semifinalist for the MAC-Hermann trophy awarded to the best male and female collegiate soccer players in the nation. Neumann is perhaps the most recognizable and well-known player on the Georgetown squad, boasting such titles as Big East Offensive Player of the Year, 2013 Big East Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and was included in the First Team All-Big East. Neumann, along with teammate and senior co-captain Joey Dillon, is expected to declare for the MLS SuperDraft.
Even though he might be the most recognizable name finishing his career on the Hilltop, Wiese is adamant that Neumann is not the only senior who will be missed. “Well, it’s not just [Joey Dillon and Steve Neumann]. We’re losing six seniors and in losing them, we lose a lot of character [and] work ethic there. Joey Dillon and Stevie Neumann are great. Steve is going to go on to have a very successful career, as is Joey Dillon who will have an excellent MLS career,” Wiese said.
Luckily, the Hoyas have strength in every class, boasting a number of starters in each grade level, thanks in large part to Wiese’s policy of implementing younger players into his system early. Freshmen starters Bakie Goodman, Alex Muyl, and Joshua Yaro proved their mettle in collegiate soccer by consistently performing beyond their years. Sophomore defensive lynchpins Cole Seiler and Keegan Rosenberry continue to impress while Tomas Gomez promises to continue patrolling the six-yard box with prudence and skill.
Despite uncertainties hovering over his lineup for next year, Wiese maintains it’s simply a necessary evil. “I don’t know who’s going to replace them,” Wiese said. “I think that’s the curse of working in a good program. Every year you lose great players and you always wonder what you’re going to do next year.”
