WASHINGTON – The Georgetown University men's soccer squad needed extra time to defeat the Villanova University Wildcats (6-5-1, 1-4-0 BIG EAST), 2-1, in double overtime in a BIG EAST Conference matchup at Shaw Field on Saturday afternoon.  With the win, the Blue & Gray improves to 7-3-3 overall and 3-1-1 in conference play with four games remaining in the regular season.
 
"I was really pleased with how we played today, the second half through the overtimes I thought our mentality was really good," said Georgetown Head Coach Brian Wiese.  "We were generating a lot and we have guys come in and do really well for us.  Getting the result was the psyche of the team and will put us in a happy mood in training going into Seton Hall."
 
The game winner came in the 106th minute as a foul occurred just outside the box and senior captain Kyle Zajec (Westport, Conn. / Staples) hit a perfect ball off of the free kick to the right post.  He found the head of senior captain Brendan McDonough (Matthews, N.C. / Charlotte Catholic) who rose up to hit it across the face and out of the Wildcat defense's reach.  Junior forward Riley Strassner (Avon, Conn. / Avon) was in the mix and managed to head it into the net to give the Blue & Gray the 2-1 golden goal in double overtime.
 
Georgetown managed possession early as the Wildcats were unable to get into a rhythm.  In the 17th minute, junior forward Achara (Enugu, Nigeria / Berkshire School [Mass.]) let one fly from just inside the box that clanged off of the far post as the Blue & Gray began to look dangerous.  Minutes later, a free kick was served in from Zajec resulted in a header from McDonough that sailed just wide
 
Villanova answered following a restart as a shot through traffic was saved by a diving Ethan Koehler (Maplewood, N.J. / Columbia).  The sophomore earned his first career start after freshman goalkeeper Giannis Nikopolidis (Athens, Greece / Nea Genia Zirdi) was called up to play with the Greek National Team.  On the rebound, Koehler made a second stop to keep it scoreless.
 
The 'Cats continued to pressure, but in the final minutes of the half Georgetown regained possession.  A laser from sophomore midfielder Foster McCune (Bethesda, Md. / St. Alban's School) was blocked with eight minutes to go in the stanza, and GU had a chance in the final seconds as the teams went into the break in a scoreless tie.
 
Villanova had the first chance of the second half, but the Blue & Gray answered back as Achara curled a shot to the far post that went just wide as the Hoyas scored for the first goal of the contest.  Off of a free kick, it was the head of sophomore forward Derek Dodson (Aurora, Ill. / Waubonsie Valley) that knocked another ball off of the post as Georgetown was at the doorstop.
 
The Hoyas finally found the answer in the 59th minute as junior defender Dylan Nealis (Massapequa, N.Y. / Massapequa) was fouled in the box.  This resulted in Dodson lining up for the penalty kick and burying it to make it 1-0.
 
GU battled to get the second as sophomore midfielder Jacob Montes (Lake Worth, Fla. / Beaverton [Ore.]) had a great look off of a free kick that was saved by VU keeper Carson Williams.  The keeper made another big save in the 77th minute as Achara was ahead of the defense and 1v1 with Williams.
 
The game changed in the 78th minute as a turnover a midfield resulted in Evan Vare with the ball just outside the box.  He took two touches and fired with the ball sailing just under the crossbar and out of the reach of Koehler to tie the game at one.  Neither team would find the back of the net in the remaining minutes as they ended regulation tied at one to send the game into overtime.
 
The Wildcats had the first chance of overtime as McDonough came up with the stop.  Minutes later, a 'Nova free kick resulted in a dangerous header that went just wide of the left post.  Those would be the best two chances of the first overtime as neither squad scored in the 10-minute period.
 
Georgetown only needed five minutes to find the game winner in the second overtime as a foul set up the golden goal from Strassner.
 
The Hoyas outshot the Wildcats, 27-13, and took eight corner kicks to 'Nova's four.  Koehler was awarded his first career win with five saves to his credit.  Williams took the loss with four saves in the goal.
 
The Hoyas will head out on the road to face the Seton Hall University Pirates on Saturday in South Orange, New Jersey.  Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.  The game will be broadcast live on the BIG EAST Digital Network (BEDN) and live stats will be available at www.GUHoyas.com.  
 
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