WASHINGTON – The Georgetown University women's soccer team defeated the Villanova Wildcats 3-0 on Thursday afternoon. With the victory, GU improves to 11-2-4 and 7-1-1 in BIG EAST action while Villanova slides to 5-6-5 and 2-2-4 in conference play. GU will now face Xavier on Thursday, October 31 in a match that could decide the BIG EAST regular season champion.
 
Head Coach Dave Nolan
"Today was a very good performance from the girls. It is never easy to come here to Villanova and we knew they were fighting hard for points to make the BIG EAST Championships, so we knew it was not going to be an easy game. We came out quite strong to begin with and I thought we set the tone for the game. Natalie Means scored a good goal putting us up 1-0 and it allowed us to dominate the half. It was surprising we didn't have another two or three in the first half.
 
We talked about getting the second goal to start the second half hoping it would kill off any life they may have had. Shay Montgomery scored a great goal for us to put us up 2-0 and after that the sting was taken out of the game. I thought they were happy to try and stay organized and make us work hard and then Eliza Turner scored a great third goal to seal the match.
 
Overall, it was a really good performance and I think it was one of our more complete performances this year. We are excited knowing that next Thursday when we host Xavier, it most likely will be for the regular season title. It will be a real fun game and will have a conference final feel about it even though it is a regular season game. The girls are excited for it, and I think it is only fitting that the two best teams in the conference get to faceoff for the crown."
 
About the Match

• Georgetown dominated the early portion of the game outshooting the Wildcats 10-1 in the first 25 minutes of play.
• In the 32nd minute, Maja Lardner played a ball inside the six-yard box where Natalie Means ran onto it and hammered it home giving GU an early 1-0 advantage.
• GU took the 1-0 lead into the break outshooting the 'Cats 16-1 in the first frame.
• The Blue & Gray continued to create chances early in the second half but were unable to find the back of the net.
• In the 59th minute, Henley Tippins received a ball just outside the box off a throw in. Tippins cut it back towards the top of the box where Shay Montgomery ran onto it. After beating two defenders, Montgomery bent a shot around defenders towards the far post finding the side netting to give GU a 2-0 advantage.
• Villanova was able to create a few opportunities after GU's second goal, but the Hoya back line stood tall allowing only one shot on frame.
• In the waning minutes of the contest, Eliza Turner beat her defender at the top of the box before rifling a shot on frame. From 20-yards out, Turner was able to bend the ball around the Wildcat keeper tallying her seventh goal of the season as GU secured a 3-0 victory.

 
Notable Stats

• Means tallied her third goal of the year in the first half.
• Montgomery netted her third goal of the campaign.
• Turner added her seventh goal of the season in the 86th minute.
• Cara Martin and Anna Karpenko combined for GU's 12th clean sheet of the season.
• Georgetown outshot Villanova 26-3.
• GU has clinched a spot in the 2024 BIG EAST Championships.

 
WHAT LIES AHEAD
The Blue & Gray will return to action on Thursday, October 31 as the Blue & Gray close out the regular season at Shaw Field against Xavier in a rematch of the 2023 BIG EAST Championship game. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. on the BIG EAST Digital Network on FloSports. A link to the live stream and live stats will be available on GUHoyas.com.