WASHINGTON – The Georgetown University men's soccer squad will host the Radford University Highlanders (0-2) on Friday afternoon at Shaw Field in the squad's home opener for the 2018 season. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. The Hoyas are 1-1 out of opening weekend downing South Carolina on Friday before falling to No. 18 Coastal Carolina on Sunday evening.
On Monday, freshman goalkeeper
Giannis Nikopolidis (Athens, Greece / Nea Genia Zirdi) was named the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week in the league's first set of awards for the season. Nikopolidis posted a 1-0 overtime victory in his Georgetown debut at South Carolina on Friday. He managed eight saves in the contest as the Hoyas scored in the 92nd minute for the victory marking his first career shutout. In the 2-1 overtime loss at No. 18 Coastal Carolina on Sunday, Nikopolidis collected six saves.
Junior
Achara (Enugu, Nigeria / Berkshire School [Mass.]) and sophomore
Derek Dodson (Aurora, Ill. / Waubonsie Valley) both lead the Hoyas with one goal apiece for two points on the year. Both were Preseason All-BIG EAST selections along with Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Brendan McDonough (Matthews, N.C. / Charlotte Catholic). Along with preseason player of the year honors, McDonough was also one of four unanimous selections to the Preseason All-BIG EAST team. The second-year captain was already named to the Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List earlier in the month.
The Hoyas received seven first-place votes and a total of 79 points. Butler earned the remaining three first-place votes and a total of 73 points. Both Georgetown and Butler represented the league in the NCAA Tournament field last season.
Radford is 0-2 on the season with losses to Old Dominion (1-0) and VCU (3-0) this past weekend. Following a 10-4-4 campaign in 2017 that came to an end in the Big South Semifinals, Radford was picked to finish second in the 2018 Big South Preseason Poll. Redshirt senior forward Kieran Roberts will be tasked with leading the team offensively after winning Big South Attacking Player of the Year a season ago and then being named Preseason Co-Attacking Player of the Year earlier this month. Other All-Big South honorees – midfielder Victor Valls and defender Max Edwards – also return.
The Hoyas are 2-0 all-time against the Highlanders with both wins coming at home. The most recent meeting was a 5-2 Georgetown victory early in the 2015 season. Alex Muyl and Brandon Allen both had two goals in the contest. The first matchup was a 2-0 Hoya win in 2011.
Links to live stats and a webcast featuring alumni Dan Helfrich and Tom Greaser will be available at www.GUHoyas.com, or follow live updates on Twitter at @GUHoyasMSoccer.
