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Georgetown University Athletics

Big East Conference Hoya Saxa
Women's Soccer vs. Butler
Stew Milne
1
Butler BUTLER (10-2-0, 6-1-0)
2
Winner Georgetown GTOWN (11-0-1, 7-0-1)
Butler BUTLER
(10-2-0, 6-1-0)
1
Final
2
Georgetown GTOWN
(11-0-1, 7-0-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Butler BUTLER 0 1 0 1
Georgetown GTOWN 1 0 1 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Menta Overtime Goal Clinches BIG EAST Championship, Four Hoyas Named to All-Tournament Team

WASHINGTON – The Georgetown University women's soccer team left it late, but finished on top, against fellow top-seed Butler during the BIG EAST Championship final on Sunday, April 18. Senior Grace Nguyen opened the game's scoring with a well-struck effort in the first half, but Butler answered back with a goal of its own once the second period began. With neither team able to gain an advantage over 90 minutes, overtime was needed to decide a winner. Senior Jenna Menta secured the Hoyas' fourth BIG EAST Championship title in five years with her shot just three minutes into the extra period. With the victory, Georgetown earn an automatic NCAA Championship berth. 

COACH NOLAN ON THE BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE
  • "I'm so proud of the kids. It's been a real challenging year, not just for us, but for every program that's been trying to give these girls a part of their college experience, trying to get things as close to normal as we could. I have to give our administration and our University so much credit for giving us this opportunity. In terms of the team, I couldn't be more proud of the girls, they've been fantastic all year. We've gone through the whole season now, we haven't lost a game. We keep finding ways to win games and I've just got a really great bunch of kids. There's nothing that's come their way this year that has caused them to get miffed or get upset, they've rolled with everything...they're a fantastic group of kids and we're super excited to bring home another BIG EAST Championship." 

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • In the seventh minute, BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year Menta surged into the Butler penalty area before being brought down by a Bulldog defender; no foul was called by the referee, but the ball broke for senior Nguyen at the top of the box, who struck the ball cleanly with her right foot and found the bottom-left corner of the goal.
  • Just a few minutes later, Georgetown once again threatened the BU goal after a quick shot by Jenna Royson from just inside the penalty box forced a save from goalkeeper Stephanie Rodriguez.
  • In the 27th minute, a well-worked corner routine from the Hoyas freed space for Royson to dispatch a shot from just outside the six-yard box, but Rodriguez once again stifled the chance with an acrobatic save.
  • With 18 minutes to play, Nguyen nearly tallied her second goal of the match after Royson, from the right wing, drove a pass into her feet. Nguyen struck the ball first time but Rodriguez pushed the ball to safety, diving low to her left-hand side.
  • Nguyen's goal would be the difference at halftime, as Georgetown went into the break up 1-0.
  • Once play resumed, Julia Leas had the first chance of the second half courtesy of a Maya Fernandez-Powell corner. The ball fell to the head of Leas, who directed it goalwards, but Rodridguez was equal to the effort. 
  • Butler pegged a goal back from Katie Soderstrom, whose effort from the top of the GU penalty box beat Lauren Gallagher.
  • With six minutes to play, Leas fashioned another chance from a corner, but her header was again smothered by Rodriguez.
  • The score would remain 1-1 as the second half came to a close.
  • Just three and a half minutes into the first overtime period, Menta dribbled from the halfway line into in the Butler penalty area. With two Bulldog defenders closing in on her, Menta lofted a shot towards the back post, finally beating Rodriguez and clinching the BIG EAST Championship title for the Hoyas.

OF NOTE
  • GU outshot Butler 22-6 in the contest, with 11 of its shots finding the target.
  • With her goal, Menta has tallied four this season and increases her career points tally to 38, more than any other active GU player.
  • The Blue & Gray won 14 corners throughout the match, with BU earning only three.
  • The Hoyas have now won four BIG EAST Championship titles in five years.
  • Four Georgetown players earned spots on the conference's All-Tournament Team: Menta, Fernandez-Powell, Nguyen, and Leas.
  • Additionally, Menta and Leas were tabbed as the tournament's Most Outstanding Offensive and Defensive Player, respectively. 

UP NEXT FOR THE HOYAS
The BIG EAST Championship title ensures Georgetown a spot in this year's NCAA Tournament in Cary, North Carolina. The Tournament's official selection show is scheduled for Monday, April 19 at 1 p.m. 
 
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