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Georgetown University Athletics

Big East Conference Hoya Saxa
Women's Soccer vs Creighton (BET)
1
Creighton CU (4-6-0, 4-4-0)
2
Winner Georgetown GU (10-0-1, 7-0-1)
Creighton CU
(4-6-0, 4-4-0)
1
Final
2
Georgetown GU
(10-0-1, 7-0-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Creighton CU 1 0 0 1
Georgetown GU 1 0 1 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Leas Penalty Kick Sends Georgetown to BIG EAST Championship Final

WASHINGTON – The Georgetown University women's soccer team will play in Sunday's BIG EAST Women's Championship after the squad defeated the Creighton Bluejays 2-1 in overtime. Sophomore Gia Vicari's first half goal was canceled out by Aida Kardovic's effort almost 20 minutes later, but a Julia Leas penalty seconds into the first overtime period would end the contest in Georgetown's favor. In Sunday's BIG EAST finale, the program will look to win its fourth title in five years.

COACH NOLAN ON THE BIG EAST WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINAL
  • "Today was a very difficult game. Conditioners were very, very challenging; the weather was atrocious. We had rain and sleet coming in, wind [as well]. It just made it very difficult to play the type of soccer we like to play and I think when you throw in the fact that we haven't played a game in three weeks because of COVID protocols, I wasn't shocked that we weren't at our best today and I have to give the kids credit for finding a way to get a result and finding a way to make plays in overtime to win it. The game itself, we started brightly, scored a good goal the way we kind of wanted to score and after that, I don't know, fatigue set in and we just couldn't really dominate the game to get the second goal which would have ended the game. But, credit to Creighton. They are a very, very good team; very well coached. Their kids played this; it was their first time in the tournament. You could see how much it meant and I have to give them a lot of credit. In many ways they were the better team and we probably just about ended it. We are happy to be moving on and we're hoping and needing a better performance on Sunday if we want to take a trophy back on the bus with us. Our best performance today was Julia Leas who did a fantastic job defensively on a top player of Creighton's: Skylar Heinrich. And then for Julia to step forward and take the penalty kick in overtime just shows you what a competitor and winner she is."
 

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Alyssa Navarrete was called into action early, smothering a shot from All-BIG EAST Second Team award-winner Skylar Heirich just two minutes into the match.
  • Georgetown made the breakthrough after the 10-minute mark; BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year Jenna Menta received the ball on the right wing before fizzing a pass across the Bluejay penalty area to the BIG EAST's top scorer, Gia Vicari, who fired the shot past the Creighton keeper.
  • Fourteen minutes later, Maya Fernandez-Powell served a well-placed corner kick to the back post, but junior Devon Lis couldn't direct her header goalwards.
  • With 20 minutes to play in the first half, the ball broke kindly inside of the Hoya penalty area for CU's Nicole Tiller, but Navarrete once again stood strong, making the save.
  • At 18:43, the 'Jays dispatched a cross into the GU box; after an initial header by Kelly Ann Livingstone, the ball fell to Creighton's Aida Kardovic who made no mistake cushioning the ball into the net to make the score 1-1.
  • The teams would go into the halftime break at 1-1.
  • CU's Ansley Atkinson got the action started once play resumed, firing a shot from just outside the Blue & Gray penalty area which sailed wide of Navarrete's right-hand post.
  • With 18 minutes in regulation, Kaitlyn Parcell served a cross into the Bluejay penalty area, forcing a punch from the Creighton goalkeeper. Creighton was unable to clear, and the ball found its way towards Sofie Fox, but her volley attempt was deflected wide of the post.
  • As regulation came to a close, neither side could gain the advantage as the teams would head into an overtime period.
  • Just 35 seconds into overtime, Menta surged into the Bluejays' penalty area and was brought down by the opposing goalkeeper, resulting in a penalty kick being awarded. Julia Leas stepped up with a place in the BIG EAST Championship on the line and buried the spot kick into the net, winning the game for Georgetown.

OF NOTE
  • Menta registered her eighth assist of the season and she continues to lead the BIG EAST in the assist column.
  • Vicari extended her season tally to 10 goals with her first-half strike as the Reading, Pennsylvania native sits atop of the BIG EAST scoring charts.
  • GU's goalkeepers combined for five stops, with Navarrete and Gallagher registering two and five saves, respectively.
  • The Blue & Gray won five corners throughout the match, with Creighton earning only one.

UP NEXT FOR THE HOYAS
Georgetown will face either Butler or UConn in the BIG EAST championship game on April 18 at 11 a.m. The game will be available on FS1 and viewers can follow the game via the live stats link on GUHoyas.com. 

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All Georgetown women's soccer home matches are currently scheduled to be played at Shaw Field. In accordance with Washington, D.C. regulations which limit the size of in-person gatherings, fans are regrettably not permitted to attend home games at this time.
 
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