Oct. 16, 2008

Washington, D.C. - The Georgetown University women's soccer team hits the road for the first time in October this weekend when they play at West Virginia on Friday night at 7 p.m. and at Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. The Hoyas currently own a seven-game regular season unbeaten streak when playing on the road and posses a Top 20 scoring offense (2.54 goals per game) to go along with a Top 20 defense (0.59 goals allowed per game).

After scoring two goals in Tuesday's win over Syracuse, junior Toni Marie Hudson (Coral Springs, Fla./Stoneman Douglas) is second only to M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Award winner and Notre Dame senior Kerri Hanks in the BIG EAST in points and trails Hanks and Melissa Henderson in goals. Hudson's 10 goals have her tied for the GU single-season record that is shared by Chrissy Skogen and Jessie Beers-Altman and the junior is currently third on the single-season points list with 24. This season, she was named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week and named to various other "Teams of the Week" on September 22.

Sophomore Michaela Buonomo (Churchville, Pa./Council Rock), a Freshman All-American last season and Weekly BIG EAST Honor Roll selection this season, has helped lead a defense that has shutout eight opponents. Sophomore goalkeeper Jackie DesJardin (Sunnyvale, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) is fifth in the BIG EAST in goals-allowed average and fourth in the conference in save percentage, while ranking in the top 40 nationally in both categories. She is also second on the career shutouts list to Jade Higgins (`08) and needs one shutout to tie the single-season record, which she set last season.

Freshman Samantha Baker (Long Beach, Calif./Wilson) currently ranks third in the conference behind Hanks and Hudson with 24 points, while ranking fourth in the conference with seven assists (39th nationally). She has also made the top-10 single-season lists at GU for points and assists. Baker has been named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll and earned a BIG EAST Rookie of the Week honor for scoring twice in a win over UMBC. Sophomore Caitlin Durkee (St. Paul, Minn./Como Park) is currently ranked eighth nationally with 10 assists. Her helpers are the third-highest single-season total in GU history.

WEST VIRGINIA
All-time series: Georgetown is 2-10-0 all-time against West Virginia, having lost three in a row and seven of the past eight. The Hoyas lost 5-3 last season at North Kehoe Field and have never won at WVU's Dick Dlesk Stadium.

The Mountaineers went 1-0-1 last week, including a 3-0 win over Providence on Oct. 10 and a 0-0 tie against Connecticut on Oct. 12. WVU belted a season-high 13 shots on-goal en route to the shutout over Providence. A pair of freshmen in Blake Miller and Erica Henderson, along with an own-goal from a Friar defender, combined for the scoring efforts. The Mountaineer defense posted its ninth shutout of the season, holding Providence to one shot on goal.

The Mountaineers totaled 25 shots but failed to find the back of the net in a 0-0 double overtime draw with Connecticut. A crowd of 1,407 took in the Mountaineers' fifth scoreless match of the season, a WVU school record for ties. The Mountaineer defense held Connecticut without a shot in the first half and a season-low four shot attempts for the game. WVU generated a season-high 12 corner kicks. West Virginia has yet to score a goal in six overtime matches (113 minutes, 13 seconds) this season. WVU has outshot its opponent every game this season.

Mountaineer Notes • WVU has won at least 15 games in six of the last eight seasons. • WVU is coming off its second NCAA Sweet 16 and first NCAA Elite Eight, and has advanced to eight consecutive NCAA Championships. • WVU returns three All-Americans (Greer Barnes, Amanda Cicchini, Deana Everrett) for the first time-ever, along with four All-BIG EAST players (Barnes, Cicchini, Everrett and Carolyn Blank) in 2008. • The forward position must replace the production of 68 career goals from the graduation of seniors Ashley Banks, Kim Bonilla and Kiley Harris. • Goalkeeper should be a strength with two experienced goalkeepers returning in sophomore Kerri Butler and junior Mallory Beck. Last season, Beck's seven shutouts and Butler's six blankings gave the WVU defense 13 shutouts for the second straight year.

PITTSBURGH
All-time series: The Hoyas are 4-5-2 all-time against Pittsburgh, despite having won last year, 4-2. Also, even though GU has earned points in three of the last four contests against the Panthers, they have only one win in the past 11 seasons at Pittsburgh.

The Panthers went 1-1-0 last week, including a 2-1 loss to Connecticut on October 10 and a 2-1 win over Providence on October 12. Pitt jumped out to an early 1-0 lead against UConn as Liz Carroll headed in a corner-kick taken by Jennifer Kritch in the 10th minute. The goal was Carroll's fourth of the season and tied her for the team's scoring lead. Pitt failed to capitalize on two other corner kick opportunities created in the first half. Connecticut controlled the pace throughout the remainder of the game, outshooting Pitt 10-3 in the game's second period.

On Sunday, Pitt scored a goal in overtime to earn a 2-1 decision over Providence at Founders Field. The game marked the first overtime victory for Pitt this season. In the 24th minute, the Panthers took a 1-0 lead as Ashley Habbel collected a pass inside the box from Liz Carroll and fired the ball into the top right corner. Pitt dictated pace throughout the remainder of the first half, outshooting Providence 6-2 in the opening period. In the ninth minute of overtime, freshman Katelyn Ruhe received a pass from Christina Nicassio and finished into the top, right corner to tally her fifth goal and first collegiate game-winner.

With her total of two points on the afternoon, Habbel moved into sole possession of second place on Pitt's all-time career points list with 36. Cande Ruiz (1998-2001) ranks atop of the career point list with 47. Habbel, who scored her 15th career goal, also needs just four more goals to surpass Ruiz as the Panthers' leading all-time goal scorer.

Panther Notes • The Panthers won six of their first nine matches last season. • Pitt returns a solid core of experienced players, including junior Ashley Habbel. She started all 18 matches for the Panthers and totaled 14 points, including five goals. In addition, sophomores Laura Berbert and Kat Weiler each started all 18 matches for the squad. • In net, junior goalkeeper Allison Finch started 14 games and totaled 64 saves along with four shutouts. She allowed just 22 goals for a goals-against average of 1.64. • The Panthers are under the direction of head coach Sue-Moy Chin, who begins her sixth year in Pittsburgh.