Aug. 21, 2011
Box Score
WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University women's soccer squad (2-0) won a wild one on Sunday against the American University Eagles (1-1) in the team's home opener at North Kehoe Field. Multiple delays totaling two hours threatened the game, however, the teams got it in and the Hoyas came away with the 4-0 victory.
"It was a crazy day, but we managed to do a few things well to win," said Georgetown Head Coach Dave Nolan. "It's always a different game when you play a local rival and we knew they would be ready to go this year after we gave them a good hammering last year."
Lightning during the National Anthem foretold of interruptions to come as kickoff was delayed 40 minutes due to weather.
When the squads finally got going, it was the Hoyas who controlled the pace from the outset. Senior Samantha Baker (Long Beach, Calif./Wilson) scored the first goal at just three minutes in off of a free kick. Baker took the kick just a step inside the corner flag and bent it into the top left corner of the net making it 1-0.
"We had a good start early just like Friday which is a good quality to have," said Nolan."
Freshman forward Jessica Clinton (Avon, Mass./Thayer Academy) notched her first intercollegiate goal in the 32nd minute finding the back of the net after American keeper Klare Lazor punched a shot by sophomore midfielder Alexa St.Martin (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy) away from the goal.
The Hoyas made it 3-0 in the 36th minute when St. Martin managed a goal of her own off of the pass by Kaitlin Brenn (Branchburg, N.J./Somerville).
The Blue & Gray controlled the game allowing American few opportunities on offense. The Hoyas looked sharp, but the day was long from over as the skies opened and it began to lightning with five minutes to go in the first half.
Following an hour and a half delay for weather, the squads took the soggy pitch to resume the first half.
"We really played our best soccer after the break," said Nolan. "It's always difficult to regroup, refocus and regain momentum both mentally and physically. Credit to the team for playing what I see as our best so far this year and that's how we'll need to continue to play."
At the abbreviated halftime, Georgetown held an 11-0 advantage in shots and had been awarded seven corner kicks while American had seen none. Lazor had three saves, while GU's Hanna Monson (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) had yet to be tested.
The delay and short halftime didn't seem the slow the Hoyas who continued to dominate on offense in the second half.
After a goalkeeping switch with 12 minutes remaining in the half, Georgetown's Elizabeth Hanna (Waxhaw, N.C./Weddington) was forced to make the first Hoya save of the afternoon stopping the Eagles' lone shot.
The final goal of the day came in the 80th minute as Ingrid Wells (Upper Montclair, N.J./Montclair) forced Lazor out of the net allowing freshman Daphne Corboz (Greenbrook, N.J./Watchung Hills) to slip in to fire it into the empty goal.
The Hoyas will be back in action on Friday at North Kehoe Field. The squad will welcome Towson University for a 3 p.m. kickoff. Live stats and a webcast will be available at www.GUHoyas.com. It will be a weekend of soccer as the Hoyas host No. 1 Stanford on Sunday.
"We'll play a tough Towson team on Friday who is very physical and then on Sunday we bring in the No. 1 team in the country in Stanford," said Nolan. "We're looking to take care of business on Friday and prepare for Sunday's match on Saturday. It will be a fun weekend."
