Aug. 24, 2017 WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University field hockey team will open the season on Friday afternoon against Davidson College at 2 p.m. at Cooper Field. The contest marks the first of a four-game home stand for the Blue & Gray as the team will host Appalachian State on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Head Coach Shannon Soares returns for her fourth year on the Hilltop in 2017 after having led the team to 19 wins over her first three seasons. The squad has a solid core of 13 returners and will be bolstered by a strong freshman class of seven as well as transfer Emily Fraser (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Shenendehowa/Albany) from the University at Albany-SUNY.
The Hoyas were selected eighth in the 2017 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches Poll and lost All-BIG EAST performer
Aliyah Graves-Brown.
Soares selected seniors Megan Parsons (Chester Springs, Pa./Villa Maria) and Mackenzie Schneider (Norfolk, Va./Maury) along with junior Katie Maransky (Blue Bell, Pa./Mount Saint Joseph's Academy) to serve as captains in 2017.
Davidson was 6-13 a season ago and 2-6 in Atlantic-10 Conference play. Last year, Georgetown won at Davidson by a score of 3-1 with goals from Jessica Lagano (Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich), Graves-Brown and Helena Masiello (East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia). The two teams have opened the season against one another every year since 2012. This will be the Wildcats' first game of the 2017 season.
Appalachian State went 1-15 last year, but started this season 1-1 in exhibition games including a 3-1 victory over Davidson. Last year, the Mountaineers and Hoyas met and GU came away with the 4-3 victory. Lindsay Getz (Northfield, Ill./Loyola Academy) opened the scoring, but App State answered with a pair of goals. Megan Parsons found the back of the cage to move ahead, but once again the Mountaineers answered. A second goal from Getz forced an extra period, and Sam Hickey (Coatesville, Pa./Villa Maria) connected on the game winner for the 4-3 decision.
The Hoyas will play 10 home games at Cooper Field this season, and nine road contests. The squad has 12 nonconference games scheduled including six at home.
Friday's game will begin at 2 p.m. Fans are encouraged to arrive early because it is freshman move in day on campus. Sunday is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Live stats and a new-and-improved webstream featuring Monica McNutt will be available for both contests at www.GUHoyas.com.
