Oct. 24, 2008
Louisville, Ky. - The Georgetown University women's soccer team (12-3-2) clinched a spot in the BIG EAST Tournament with a 1-0 win at Louisville (7-6-3) on Friday night. Freshman Samantha Baker capitalized on a failed clearance by the UofL defense and put her eighth goal of the year just inside the left post from 25 feet out for the decider. It was the first win in the all-time series against Louisville. This will be the fourth trip to the postseason in the last five years for the Blue & Gray. Jackie DesJardin (Sunnyvale, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) made six saves and broke her own single-season shutout record with her eighth blanking of the season. The shutout also tied the single-season team record of 10, set last season. The seven BIG EAST wins also sets a single-season Hoya record. Baker's goal moves her into a tie for fourth on the single-season goal scoring list and a tie for second on the single-season points list. Georgetown had two chances in the first 20 minutes when junior Norah Swanson (Alamo, Calif./San Ramon Valley) had a shot blocked and fellow defender Laura Snyder (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) put an attempt high. Shortly thereafter, DesJardin was tested for the first time in the contest by Shannon Smyth and Katie Owen. Both players' chances were turned aside. GU had three more opportunities to take a first-half lead when Camille Trujillo (Albuquerque, N.M./St. Pius X) was denied in the 22nd minute, Stephanie Zare (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest) had an attempt blocked in the 29th minute and Caitlin Durkee (St. Paul, Minn./Como Park) sailed one high in the 42nd.
After halftime, the Blue & Gray went to the lineup that worked for them this past Tuesday as Courtney Kent (Laguna Niguel, Calif./St. Margaret's Episcopal) got her head to a chance early in the second stanza. After a Baker attempt missed, DesJardin came up big again with consecutive saves on Louisville's Kelsey Hunyadi (once) and Giselle Mangal (twice) in the span of a minute. Zare had two chances soon after, as her header was cleared off the line in the 58th minute and then had a try cleared away in the 62nd. The Hoyas would take Kent out of the game and replace her with junior Toni Marie Hudson (Coral Springs, Fla./Stoneman Douglas), who immediately created an opportunity with her speed. Louisville threatened a few times in the waning minutes, but could not find the equalizer. The Hoyas will close the regular season on Sunday at Cincinnati. Kick-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. |
 
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