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WASHINGTON - The 2017-18 academic year marks the 25th Anniversary of women's soccer at Georgetown University. As part of a planned celebration for the 25th Anniversary during the coming season, Head Coach Dave Nolan will share his top-10 moments in the history of the program leading up to a celebration for the program during the season.

The second of Nolan's Top 10 is the program's first BIG EAST Conference win, a 1-0 decision over Seton Hall on Nov. 3, 1996, the last game of the season. Excerpts of this summary come from the game recap in The Hoya.

"Call it justice. Call it karma. Or just call it a storybook ending to a wild chapter. Any way you look at it, Georgetown women's soccer team achieved the biggest milestone in its young history Sunday on Harbin Field when it defeated Seton Hall, 1-0, to earn its first BIG EAST victory since entering the league last year." (The Hoya)

The Hoyas started women's soccer in 1993 at the Division I level and played two years as an independent before the BIG EAST started a league for the sport in 1995. The Blue & Gray, in just its third year of play, went winless in the first season and had lost eight games in 1996 before closing the regular season with its first-ever league win.

"It was a magic moment," then-Head Coach Leonel Pope said to The Hoya. "We said once we won this one, there would be a sense of relief. It was a very special moment."

Tears were flowing from many of the Georgetown players after the game. The Hoyas, who finished that season 6-11-2 overall and 1-8-0 in conference play, used an early goal and "suffocating defense" to beat the Pirates, who were on their way to play in the postseason.

Senior co-captain Rachel Grygiel's goal in the 16th minute of the game proved to be decisive. Coming off an indirect kick near the penalty area, senior co-captain Erin Donovan tapped a short ground pass to Grygiel, who blasted a shot from 20 yards out to the upper-right corner for the goal. "Harbin Field erupted, and the Hoya squad proceeded to gang-tackle Grygiel in celebration." (The Hoya)

It was the first lead in a conference game for the Hoyas and the team continued to press, outshooting Seton Hall, 18-6, including Grygiel taking a shot that hit the post.

"This time we got the breaks," Popel said to The Hoya. "In the past when we outshot our opponents, we didn't."

Popel credited the team's defense for containing Seton Hall, including sophomore sweeper Alex Desbrow, as well as Grygiel and Donovan and freshman goalkeeper Keisha McDonald, who registered her fourth shutout of the season. Seton Hall had several chances in the first half, but were held in check in the second half.

As the minutes drew closer to the full 90, the crowd of 350 fans were ready to celebrate a win, and the tension on the field was growing for the players. "I was nervous, even with about five minutes left," Donovan told The Hoya. "We owe a lot to (the Georgetown student cheering group) Pots n' Spoons. They really kept us in it."

As the buzzer sounded to indicate the finish of the game, the crowd and players erupted in celebration. "The win was worth the whole season," Popel said afterward.