The Georgetown women’s soccer team (9-5-1, 3-1-1 Big East) gets set to take on the Seton Hall Pirates (2-11-2, 1-5-0 Big East) this Thursday at Shaw Field to close out a three-game homestand. The Hoyas, fresh off a 2-2 tie against the Marquette Golden Eagles (6-6-4, 3-2-1 Big East), are only one game back of the conference-leading DePaul Blue Demons (11-2-3, 5-0-1 Big East). A win against Seton Hall would be a huge step forward in chasing down the Blue Demons before a head-to-head matchup in Chicago on Sunday.
The Pirates have plummeted to second-to-last in the conference with a loss to Butler (11-5-1, 4-2-0 Big East) on Sunday and are still yet to win a game on the road, but they are no pushover. Four out of five of Seton Hall’s losses came at just a one-goal deficit, to the first, third, fourth, and fifth-place teams in the conference. The Pirates vanquished the physical Golden Eagles group during their annual meeting, while the Hoyas could only manage a tie.
“Seton Hall becomes, obviously, a must-win game,” said Head Coach Dave Nolan. “They’re a tough team. They’re a physically tough team. They’re probably playing for pride right now…They have nothing to lose.”
Starting left back Sophomore Drew Topor’s health is still up in the air after leaving the Marquette game in the first half with an eye injury.
“It’s probably unlikely we get [Topor] back for Thursday,” said Nolan.
Topor’s injury leaves a big pair of cleats to fill at left back. Sophomore midfielder Chloe Knott shifted over to fill the position after Topor’s departure. But being right-footed, it is not her natural spot. Without another experienced option to fill in, Knott may be asked to start at left back against Seton Hall, but only time will tell.
On a positive note, sophomore midfielder Rachel Corboz will stop, drop, and roll into Shaw Field after a flaming-hot week of three goals in two games, earning Big East Offensive Player of the Week honors on the way. She now leads the team in goals (8), assists (7), and points (23).
With only three games remaining in the regular season, each game will be critical in earning a top-seed for the Big East Tournament, especially with a difficult away contest with DePaul on the horizon. Georgetown is clinging to second-place in the conference by a tie-breaker against St. John’s (12-2-1, 4-1-1 Big East), with Butler only a half-game behind. In a tightly-grouped front pack, every win matters.
