Nov. 9, 2008
Tampa, Fla. - The Georgetown University men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to the No. 11/12 University of South Florida Bulls (12-4-2) in the BIG EAST Quarterfinal on Sunday. The third-seeded Hoyas allowed an early goal by the second-seeded Bulls to open each half and couldn't recover falling to 11-5-3 on the season. GU will now have wait and see if the squad receives an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
"It's obviously a difficult result but I think our guys played a very good game today against one of the best teams in the country on their ground," said Head Coach Brian Wiese. "I'm very, very proud of the effort and the performance. We made it harder on ourselves giving up early goals in both of the halves, but how we responded to that was really great."
Less than two minutes into the game, USF took the lead after Jordan Seabrook received a pass down the left side in open space and managed to sneak the ball just inside the right post to go up 1-0. From that point on, the Bulls collapsed into their own box making it difficult for GU to get any good looks at the net. USF had two more chances in transition in the half, but a pair of brilliant saves from Georgetown keeper, Mark Wilber (Tijeras, N.M./Albuquerque Academy), kept it 1-0 at the break.
The Hoyas were outshot 6-4 in the first with no shots on goal. GU was awarded a pair of corner kicks but was unable to capitalize on the opportunities.
The second half started much like the first with the Bulls coming out and getting an early goal. Just one minute in, a poor pass in the Hoya backline allowed a charging Seabrook to get a foot on it for the one-on-one shot and goal to make it 2-0.
The Hoyas finally gained some momentum in the 64th minute when a shot that hit the post caromed to the left side and the foot of freshman David Madison (Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect) who put it right back in to pull Georgetown within one. The goal was Madison's second of the season, the midfielder had been sent into the game just 11 minutes earlier.
"David is one of our best goal scorers, I'm not surprised he scored today," said Wiese. "He got the opportunity and he hit it."
Georgetown had a number of good looks after the goal, forcing the Bulls' keeper to make a number of athletic saves; however, GU just couldn't find the back of the net falling 2-1.
Georgetown was outshot 17-11 but had five shots on goal in the second half. The Hoyas also took just two corner kicks while the Bulls were awarded five.
The Hoyas have been eliminated from the BIG EAST Tournament but still have a chance for an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for November 17 at 5:30 p.m. It will be televised on ESPNews.
