WASHINGTON – The Georgetown women's soccer team will open up the regular season on Friday evening against Georgia in the Virginia Tech Tournament in Blacksburg, Virginia. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. Live stats will be available at www.GUHoyas.com.
 
"The girls are very excited to start the season tomorrow," said Head Coach Dave Nolan. "While we don't know much about Georgia, they play in a tough conference and have an excellent coach at the helm. Hopefully all of the hard work that we put in over the spring, summer and preseason puts us in a strong position to start with a win."
 
GU finished the 2017 season 14-3-4 and won both the BIG EAST Regular Season and Championship titles for the first time in program history. The squad tied the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons, 0-0, in double overtime in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament but failed to advance in penalty kicks, 2-1.
 
The Hoyas enter the 2018 season ranked No. 22 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll and are tabbed as the preseason favorite in the BIG EAST Conference. Additionally, senior Arielle Schechtman (Del Mar, Calif./La Jolla Country Day/UCLA) was selected as Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year and junior Meaghan Nally (Herndon, Va./South Lakes) was named Preseason BIG EAST Defender of the Year. They were joined by seniors Amanda Carolan (Bayville, N.J./Central Regional) and Caitlin Farrell (Wallingford, Conn./Choate Rosemary Hall) who earned spots on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. Farell was also selected to the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List, the most prestigious individual award in college soccer and is presented annually to the most outstanding male and female players of the year.
 
The Blue & Gray led the nation in shutout percentage (.810) and ranked fourth in goals-against average (.320) in 2017. Last season, the squad registered 17 shutouts, which is the same number of shutouts from the year before and the most in program history.
 
While Georgetown lost four key seniors from last season, the Hoyas have 19 players returning and eight newcomers. The key returners include Carolan, who tied for first on the team last season with nine goals and earned a spot on the All-BIG EAST First Team, along with Schechtman. Farrell started all 21 games and recorded eight goals and three assists and made the Conference All-Tournament Team. Sophomore Jenna Menta (Lincolndale, N.Y./Somers) will also return after ranking second on the team with five assists joined by her three goals and earning a spot on the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team. The defensive end will be led by Nally, who made Second Team All-BIG EAST, and sophomore Kelly Ann Livingstone (Glen Ridge, N.J./Glen Ridge), who joined Menta on the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team.
 
Georgia is coming off of a 4-12-2 record from the 2017 season that included a 0-9-1 mark in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Bulldogs are returning 15 of their players from last season and will be joined by 14 newcomers. Rising sophomore Reagan Glisson is among those 15 returners, who led the squad last season with two goals and four assists.
 
This is the first meeting in program history between the Hoyas and the Bulldogs.
 
Following Friday's game, Georgetown will face the tournament host Virginia Tech at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Live stats and video will be available at www.GUHoyas.com.