WASHINGTON –  The Georgetown University women's lacrosse squad released its 2019 schedule on Friday. The team will face eight squads that finished 2018 ranked in the top 25 nationally as well as eight NCAA Tournament qualifiers.  Georgetown was ranked No. 22 in the final IWLCA Coaches Poll.
 
The Hoyas will start off 2019 against Saint Joseph's for the second year in a row.  The game is scheduled for Feb. 9 in Philadelphia. The Hoyas are 4-0 all-time against the Hawks winning last year's opener 18-15. 
 
Following the season opener, GU will host two contests at Cooper Field facing Towson on Feb. 16, and at Drexel on Feb. 23. The Tigers qualified for the NCAA Tournament a season ago and ranked ninth in the final poll.  GU is 10-12 all-time in the series after falling last year, 21-13. The Blue & Gray is 5-6 all-time against the Dragons with the last meeting coming a season ago and GU winning 16-8.
 
The Blue & Gray will head out on the road for five of the next six contests.  The Hoyas will play at Johns Hopkins on the Feb. 27, before traveling to Delaware on March 2.  Hopkins was No. 21 in the final poll and a 2018 NCAA qualifier.
 
GU's lone home game in the stretch will be against local rival George Washington on March 5 at 3 p.m.  Georgetown is 4-0 against the Colonials with the last meeting coming in 2017.
 
Penn will open a three-game road swing on March 9.  The Quakers finished the 2018 season ranked No. 12 in the nation and earned an NCAA Tournament berth. This will be followed up by a trip to the national runners-up Boston College on March 16 in Massachusetts.  BC lost to James Madison in the NCAA title game.  This will be the first meeting since 2005.
 
Loyola Maryland will close out the road trip on March 20.  The Greyhounds are coming off a successful season ranking 11th in the final poll.  GU fell to Loyola 13-9 a season ago. 
 
A new addition to the 2019 slate is Cal Davis which will travel to the Hilltop on March 24.  This will be the first meeting between the teams. 
 
Georgetown's final two nonconference matchups of the season are scheduled between BIG EAST Conference contests.  The Hoyas will host Navy on April 10 at Cooper Field and Maryland on April 17.  Navy tied for sixth in the final poll after advancing to the quarterfinals in 2018.  The Terps made it to the national semifinals and ranked third in the final poll.
 
The BIG EAST has moved to a six-team league this season. The Blue & Gray will travel to Butler (March 30), Villanova (April 13), and Marquette (April 27). Georgetown will host Denver (April 6) and newcomer Old Dominion (April 20).
 
The BIG EAST Championship will be held May 2 and 4 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.