Sept. 13, 2008
Box Score
Washington, D.C. - The No. 20/23 Georgetown University men's soccer squad (5-1, 0-1 BIG EAST) dropped its first game of the season in a 1-0 loss to RV/T25 Providence College (3-0-1, 1-0 BIG EAST) Saturday afternoon in Rhode Island. The contest was GU's first in the BIG EAST, they compete in the competitive Blue Division.
The Hoyas spent much of the first half on defense as they were outshot 7-2 and took no corners while the Friars were awarded three. Keeper Mark Wilbur (Tijeras, N.M./Albuquerque Acad.) had one save for Georgetown while Providence also notched a save on a shot from Hoya midfielder Seth C'deBaca (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia Prep).
The Hoya offense improved in the second half, posting three shots and controlling the pace of play. Despite seven shots by the Friars, few were high-percentage chances many coming far from the goal. GU also attempted a pair of corner kicks while the Friars took just one but that proved to be all Providence needed.
The stalemate was finally broken in the 81st minute when Michael Pereira took a shot from 20 yards out off of a set-piece which was deflected and got past Wilbur for the score and the game-winner.
"I'm proud of our guys," said Georgetown Head Coach Brian Wiese. "I thought they (Providence) ran the offense in the first half, especially the last 20 minutes, but we really had more opportunities in the second. On the goal, Mark (Wilbur) would have made the save had it not been deflected, sometimes you just get unlucky, that's soccer."
Peter Grasso (Burr Ridge,Ill./Hinsdale Central) and Jose Colchao (Fairfax, Va./Lake Braddock Secondary School) both led GU with two shots for the game, Colchao almost tied it up with a diving header that the Providence keeper just stopped. The Hoyas were outshot 14-5 and took just two corners in the loss. Wilbur totaled two saves in the game.
This marks Georgetown's first loss and the first goal the squad has conceded in over 500 minutes of play.
The Hoyas will face No. 21/17 USF on Friday, September 19 at North Kehoe Field in more BIG EAST action. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
"This is the nature of the BIG EAST," said Wiese. "You go from one top-25 team to the next. It will be a challenge, but I know our team is excited for the opportunity to face USF at home."
