WASHINGTON – It took a 90th minute goal from freshman
Joe Buck, but the top-seeded Georgetown University men's soccer team came away with a 1-0 victory over the Villanova University Wildcats on Thursday afternoon at Shaw Field in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Championship presented by JEEP. With the win, the Hoyas advance to the championship game on Sunday with a record of 15-2 on the season, while Villanova falls to 11-7-1.
Head Coach Brian Wiese
- "This very easily could have been a game that went to penalties, but we've been telling the guys not to pass up shots and that good things happen when you shoot and it's fantastic that Joe Buck was the one to score the winning goal. Joe has looked really good in training and he hasn't gotten a lot of minutes understudying for Dante and Sean but we've been trying to find reasons to get him on the field. To be honest, he changed the game in the second half when he went on so for him to win the game is just fantastic. We're just happy to be playing on Sunday."
How it Happened
- Georgetown dominated possession but could not find the back of the net in the first half.
- In the third minute, a shot from Chris Hegardt was low and to the center of the goal but it was stopped by VU keeper Carson Williams.
- The Blue & Gray continued to push, but neither team looked dangerous for the rest of the half as the Hoyas maintained.
- The squads went into the break in a scoreless tie.
- It looked like the game would change just two minutes into the second half when a shot from Zach Riviere pulled the keeper out but was wide. Stefan Stojanovic managed to get a foot on it but it hit the post and the third rebound was high as Villanova dodged a bullet.
- With 20 minutes left in regulation, Georgetown was knocking on the doorstep as shot after shot was saved or went wide.
- The Hoyas hammered the Villanova defense and in the 96th minute, Riviere had a free kick clang off of the back post.
- It looked as though the game was headed to extra time, but the Blue & Gray had a moment of magic remaining. A free kick allowed Hegardt to switch the field and find Buck at the top of the box. The freshman headed it off of a VU defender and then fired the ricochet back into the net to give the Hoyas the lead and send the Shaw Field crowd into a frenzy.
- Villanova had a chance go wide in the final seconds and Georgetown held on for the 1-0 victory.
Key Stats
- Georgetown outshot Villanova 19-3 and the Blue & Gray had five shots on goal to the 'Cats' zero.
- The Hoyas were awarded 10 corner kicks, while Villanova took one in the match.
- Nikopolidis took the win despite no saves to his credit as well as the shutout.
Up Next
- The Hoyas will face the winner of second-seeded Providence and sixth-seeded Butler which play in the second semifinal. Sunday's championship game will be broadcast on FS2 and is slated to begin at noon. Live stats will also be available at GUHoyas.com.
