Oct. 11, 2008
Box Score
Washington, D.C. - For the third game in a row, the No. RV/25 Georgetown University men's soccer squad fought to a draw despite outplaying the opponent. GU's 0-0 tie with the No. 13/11 University of Connecticut Huskies (5-3-4, 3-3-1 BIG EAST) on Saturday at North Kehoe Field was one more game where the Hoyas dominated play but couldn't find the back of the net. The draw moves the Hoyas to 7-2-3 on the season and 2-2-3 in the BIG EAST.
Georgetown came out and put two quick shots on the board but the Husky defense aided keeper Josh Ford by blocking a number of GU attempts. For almost the entire 110 minutes of play, the Blue & Gray was on the offensive but every attempt was thwarted by UConn's back four. The first half ended with a shot by O'Brian White which was blocked. White spent the contest marked by GU defenders Len Coleman and Alex Verdi silenced the talented Husky. The senior forward was the 2007 M.A.C. Herman Trophy winner awarded to Division I soccer's national player of the year.
"I thought (Alex) Verdi and (Len) Coleman shut down O'Brian White as much as you can for as good as he is," said Head Coach Brian Wiese. "They pretty well neutralized him."
UConn started quick in the second half, but the GU defense stopped some early attempts and the Hoyas gained momentum. In the 78th minute, UConn had its best chance of regulation with four quick shots. The first went wide, the second was blocked and Matthew Brutto made a pair of incredible saves to keep the Hoyas in the game. Georgetown then answered with a series of its own in the 88th minute as two shots were blocked giving GU a corner. Corey Zeller received the ball off of the broken set-piece and fired, but the ball hit the post sending the game into overtime.
The first overtime was a one-sided game as the Georgetown offense went right at the Husky D. GU started with a pair of shots and concluded the period with four straight corners but couldn't connect. In the final 10 minutes, Hoya forward Jose Colchao had something left attempting a pair of headers with Ford making an unbelievable save in goal on the first and the second going wide as time expired in a 0-0 decision.
Georgetown outshot UConn, 20-13, and took 13 corners for the second game in a row while the Huskies attempted five. Brutto had three saves in the net.
"On a day like today, one goal is going to win it and I'm proud of our guys because I though we were the team that was trying to win it in the end," said Wiese. "I'm proud of the boys because you took one of the best teams in the country and outplayed them a majority of the game."
The Hoyas will take the short trip to American University on Tuesday for a nonconference contest at Reeves Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
