May 2, 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. - WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Georgetown University softball team (21-33) will play its season finale against the Marshall University Thundering Herd (24-27) on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Guy Mason Field. The Hoyas softball team, concluding their third season of play, will honor seniors Katharine Lang and Brittany Sonnichsen (Madison, Conn./Choate Rosemary Hall), both members of the inaugural GU softball team in 2006, in an on-field ceremony prior to the game.

Lang, a two-year letter winner served as team captain during in the Hoyas inaugural season in 2006 and again in 2007. She started in 63 of 72 games during her Georgetown career. Away from the field Lang served as an active member of the Georgetown University community, serving as the Vice President of the GU Aids Coalition. She was also awarded the Misty Dailey Award for Music for outstanding achievement in the music department, all before graduating magna cum laude with Bachelor of Arts degrees in anthropology and American musical culture in December 2007.

Sonnichsen, is the program's first three-year letter winner and 2008 team captain. Sonnichsen, who has started 64 games during her career, recorded the first extra-base hit in program history on March 10, 2006. Away from the field Sonnichsen has served as a producer and saxophonist in the Georgetown Cabaret, as well as playing saxophone in the Jazz band. Brittany has taken part in New Student Orientation and the Student Athletic Leadership Advisory Committee. Brittany is a pre-dental student and will be headed to dental school next year!

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:
HEAD COACH Pat Conlan:
"It has been a privilege to coach Brittany Sonnichsen and Katharine Lang. They have exemplified what a true student-athlete is, they have performed their duties as players, captains, teammates and students with loyalty and integrity. These girls are two of the finest people I have ever coached.

"As members of the 2006 inaugural team, Britt and Kat helped build the foundation, create an identity and start a tradition for Georgetown Softball. The progress that this team has made in just three short years is a result of their leadership and hard work. Years from now I will look back and know that the success this program is destined for was directly related to the impact that these two young ladies had on us."

"Senior Day will be bitter sweet. While I am excited to celebrate their careers I will also be disappointed when I finally realize that they will not be back on the field with us."

Brittany Sonnichsen:
"It has been an amazing experience to see the team grow each year and become more and more competitive. Each year the group of girls has been new and different which has made each season exciting. I can't wait to come back next year and even many years down the road to see how the team continues to grow. The opportunity to play a division 1 sport is something that I will always cherish. It's extra special to me because I wasn't expecting it coming to Georgetown. I really can't imagine Georgetown without softball. The team and coaches have had such a great impact on my last three years here!

"I think I have given enthusiasm to the program. I think I've also brought goofiness and fun. I like to think that I represent what being a Georgetown student athlete is for my school and for my team."

Katharine Lang:
"Starting a softball program is not only an honor but a responsibility. The first years of a team determine the attitude and work ethic of the program to come because every recruited class comes onto the team looking to the older classes for leadership. Starting a team and playing more established programs is especially difficult because we not only have to try our hardest every single day, but also maintain positive attitudes throughout difficult moments. This is what I tried to do as a leader in the program. Physically, I tried to give it my all in both practices and games, no matter how sore or tired I was. But in addition to leading on the field, I worked to continually remind myself and my teammates that the work we are doing in the first few years is essential for the future. When practices are hard and games are lost, a new team always has to remember that they are working towards something bigger than themselves. This is the privilege and the responsibility that I am so lucky to have experienced as a student-athlete at Georgetown."

HOYAS AMONG NCAA LEADERS For the first time in team history the Hoyas, feature players among the NCAA offensive leaders. Sophomore Demetria Cipriano (Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Springs Charter) is tied for second in the nation with 20 doubles, as of April 27. Her ranking is the highest a Hoya softball player has ever been among NCAA offensive leaders in team history.

Sophomore Samantha Peters (Suwanee, Ga./Collins Hill) is tied for 13th in the nation with 16 home runs and 30th with a .745 slugging percentage.

VS. MARSHALL Georgetown will meet the Thundering herd for the second time in two seasons, having lost both ends of a doubleheader a year ago, coincidentally on Marshall's senior day. Marshall features senior Rachel Folden, who is among the NCAA leaders in batting (.429), home runs (17) and slugging percentage (.925).