WASHINGTON – The No. 13 Georgetown University men's soccer team managed an overtime goal to open the 2018 season with a 1-0 victory over the University of South Carolina Gamecocks (0-1-0) on Friday evening in Columbia, S.C.  Achara (Enugu, Nigeria / Berkshire School [Mass.]) scored the game winner in the 92nd minute as the Blue & Gray moved to 1-0-0 on the year. 
 
"This was the first time that we've played South Carolina, and Coach Berson is one of the premier coaches in our field so we were honored to play them," said Georgetown Head Coach Brian Wiese.  "He puts together a very organized group which really made it hard for us tonight. It's satisfying that our guys were able to sneak through a road result against a good opponent to start the year."
 
The game winner came in the 92nd minute for the golden goal.  Senior midfielder Kyle Zajec (Westport, Conn. / Staples) sent a perfect pass to the endline to sophomore midfielder Foster McCune (Bethesda, Md. / St. Albans School) who had gotten in behind the defense.  He one-timed it back across his body and into the middle of the box for a charging Achara who finished perfectly to give the Blue & Gray the 1-0 victory.
 
"Our goal was one of the few times in the game where we got behind them," said Wiese.  "It took two great passes, well-timed runs and a good finish to come off perfectly and we're glad it did."
 
The Hoyas managed the first look of the game, but the Gamecocks would make it difficult for the Blue & Gray all evening.  Georgetown controlled the possession early on as different Hoyas had looks testing keeper Ian McGrane. 
 
The Gamecocks came roaring back looking to find the back of the net, but it was the Hoya defense that stood strong blocking a pair of shots and watching a header sail wide to keep it scoreless.  On the other end of the field, a dangerous header by Achara was saved and the period eventually ended with the teams all tied up.
 
Early in the second half, the defense came up with another big block.  In the 61st minute, Hoya fans saw some of the first action from freshman goalkeeper Giannis Nikopolidis (Athens, Greece / Nea Genia Zirdi) who extended to save a USC shot from 25-yards out. 
 
The Blue & Gray would press forward searching for the go-ahead score, but it would never come as the squads finished out regulation in a scoreless tie.
 
Just two minutes into overtime, Achara would combine for the first goal of the season to give the Hoyas the 1-0 lead and the golden goal victory.
 
Georgetown was outshot, 14-13, but forced McGrane to make seven saves to Nikopolidis' two.  Both teams were awarded five corner kicks in the contest and Nikopolidis picked up the win as well as his first shutout on the Hilltop.
 
The Hoyas will travel to No. 18 Coastal Carolina on Sunday for a 7 p.m. matchup.  Links to live stats and a webcast will be available at www.GUHoyas.com, or follow live updates on Twitter at @GUHoyasMSoccer.