The Georgetown women’s soccer team fell to 13-2-2 on the season (5-1-2, Big East) after a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of the DePaul Blue Demons (10-5-2, 7-1, Big East). Two goals from junior Alexa Ben and a goal each from sophomore Franny Cerny and senior Abby Reed overpowered the Hoyas, whose lone goal was scored by freshman Meaghan Nally.
DePaul was on the board after 38 seconds when the Blue Demons found space down the left flank on the counterattack and played a low cross at the six-yard box that found Ben unmarked. The forward finished with a strike back across sophomore goalkeeper Arielle Schechtman, who couldn’t react quickly enough to the shot from point blank range.
Just over ten minutes later, DePaul found space on the other wing. Another through ball between the center back and outside back carved Georgetown’s defense open, and Cerny found space in the box to receive the cross that she rifled into the top corner with one touch.
The Hoyas furiously worked to regain a foothold and controlled the game for the middle 25 minutes of the half. Senior Grace Damaska went down with an injury around the midway point of the half and had to be helped off the field. She would return to the game in the second half, but Nally, who came on as her replacement, pulled a goal back for the Hoyas on the half hour mark. Sophomore Caitlin Farrell made a long run down the right flank before playing in a cross that was parried by the DePaul goalkeeper. Nally was alert to pounce on the loose ball and slotted home the finish. Georgetown seemed to have life again.
“When we got back to 2-1, I thought if we could get back to the half and regroup, we may be able to salvage something” said head coach Dave Nolan.
But just as the Hoyas looked to be gaining momentum, another low cross from DePaul caused the Georgetown defense issues. This time there was no DePaul player on the end of the cross but Georgetown’s Marina Paul was unable to make a clean clearance. Alexa Ben then slid to beat both Paul to the loose ball just outside the six-yard box and steer it past Schectman to restore the two goal lead.
DePaul added a fourth goal just before the half as Reed appeared to mishit a cross. Schechtman had taken a step forward in anticipation and her left arm reaching back was unable to prevent Reed’s mishit from nestling into the top corner. It was DePaul’s fourth shot of the half.
DePaul did not threaten nearly as much in the second half and Georgetown was able to keep the ball in DePaul’s defensive half for large stretches of the game. But beyond a volley from junior Drew Topor that hit the bar in the 60th minute, the Hoyas were reduced to shots from long range.
“This was definitely a hard one to take for us. DePaul were simply far better today,” commented Nolan. “Credit to their kids for rising to the occasion away from home, knowing what was on the line.”
Seniors Grace Damaska and Zoe Park and graduate students Marina Paul, Corey Delaney, and Crystal Thomas were honored in a pre-game ceremony before their last regular season match on Shaw Field. After a Big East championship game appearance as well as two other semifinal appearances under their belts, the 4-1 result is not the way the seniors wanted to finish their home regular season career.
“While it was a disappointing Senior Day for the senior class, there is plenty more soccer to play this year” concluded Nolan.
The next soccer for the Hoyas comes this Friday at the Creighton Blue Jays (9-5-2, 4-4, Big East). A win for the Hoyas will guarantee the number two seed in this year’s Big East tournament.
