WASHINGTON – The No. 22 Georgetown University women's soccer team (1-0) shut out the University of Georgia on Friday evening in the Virginia Tech Tournament in Blacksburg, Va. The Hoyas defeated the Bulldogs, 1-0, to earn their first win of the 2018 season.
 
GU dominated the game from the very beginning as the offense was pressing and generating good chances. In the 14th minute, graduate student Kyra Carusa (San Diego, Calif./Del Norte/Stanford) scored the Blue & Gray's first goal of the season, as well as her first at Georgetown. Carusa capitalized on the opportunity on a pass from senior Amanda Carolan (Bayville, N.J./Central Regional) and beat UGA's keeper Emory Wegener to give the Hoyas the 1-0 lead.

"This was a typical opening game, plenty of good but definitely some room for improvement," says Head Coach Dave Nolan. "We started bright and scored a well worked goal with a great finish by Kyra Carusa. While we should have added a couple more, credit to Georgia as they never went away and always posed a danger. We now have to rest up and prepare for a tough Virginia Tech on Sunday."
 
The Blue & Gray tried to find its rhythm throughout the first half with seven shots on goal while its defense pressured the Bulldogs' offense. Georgia tried to score with six seconds remaining in the first half but senior goalkeeper Arielle Schechtman (Del Mar, Calif./La Jolla Country Day/UCLA) made a save to hold UGA scoreless at the break.
 
The Hoyas continued their momentum in the second half while the defense held the Bulldogs at bay and the offense continued pressuring UGA's defense. GU forced five saves from Wegener in the second half but couldn't find the back of the net.
 
Neither team could come up with a solid look as minutes ticked away, and the Blue & Gray held on for the 1-0 shutout.
 
Georgetown outshot Georgia 16-6 and the Hoyas were awarded seven corner kicks to the Bulldog's one. Schechtman took the win managing two saves, while Wegener registered seven saves. This is Schechtman's 33rd shutout at Georgetown, which puts her at the top of the list at Georgetown with most career shutouts.
 
The Blue & Gray will continue its opening weekend on Sunday to take on tournament host Virginia Tech. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Live stats and webstream will be available at www.GUHoyas.com.