Oct. 21, 2008
Washington, D.C. - The Georgetown University women's soccer team (11-3-2) snapped a two-game losing streak on Tuesday afternoon with a 1-0 victory over St. John's (7-5-4). In the final regular-season home game for the Hoyas, sophomore Courtney Kent (Laguna Niguel, Calif./St. Margaret's Episcopal) headed home the game-winner in the 63rd minute off a throw-in from freshman Samantha Baker (Long Beach, Calif./Wilson). The goal was the first of Kent's collegiate career. "We decided to take a chance at halftime to get Courtney into the game on the offensive end," Head Coach Dave Nolan said. "She's a physical presence out there, and with her height she is able to get her head to the ball. Luckily, she made the play for us and made us look smart." In a game they needed to have, the Hoyas started strong and controlled the pace of the first half. Shots from seniors Nicole Smith (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville), Stephanie Zare (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest), freshman Camille Trujillo (Albuquerque, N.M./St. Pius X) and Baker kept the Red Storm defense on their heels. On GU's last offensive surge of the half, defender Laura Snyder (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) lofted a ball that clattered off the crossbar and kept the game scoreless headed to intermission. "I thought we had a better first half showing today than we did on Sunday," Nolan added. "We knew we had to come out with more intensity today or else we wouldn't get the result we wanted and we managed to do that during the first 45 minutes."
After subbing into the game at halftime, Kent collected two shots early in the second stanza and Baker followed with an attempt that sailed high. After working a corner, Georgetown would not allow any clearances by the Red Storm defenders, locking them in their own zone. Their persistence led to Baker's throw-in and subsequently, Kent's goal. After the goal, GU managed to fend off a few St. John's forays to preserve the 1-0 victory. The shutout was the Hoyas' ninth of the season, one shy of tying the single-season team record. "Our defenders were under a lot of pressure at the end of the game and they handled it well," Nolan said. "I think after the past few games, they seemed a little nervous at times and worried that they [St. John's] would get back in the game. I think it was very important that we were able to keep the shutout and should help us now, moving forward." Sophomore Jackie DesJardin (Sunnyvale, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) tied her own single-season record with her seventh shutout and Baker's assist moved her into a tie for third on both the single-season assist and point lists. Georgetown also moved their undefeated streak against the Red Storm to six meetings. Georgetown takes to the road this weekend, opening at Louisville on Friday night at 7 p.m. |
 
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