SEPTEMBER 11, 2015
2 | fall sports preview 2015
MEN’S SOCCER
Hoyas Work to Meet High Expectations Tyler Park
Hoya Staff Writer
In the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament, the Georgetown men’s soccer team (1-2-1) experienced a heartbreaking loss in penalty kicks to Virginia — a team that went on to win the 2014 National Championship. Nonetheless, this loss had little impact on expectations for the Hoyas in their 2015 campaign. Georgetown was ranked third in the nation, and with the return of star junior defender Joshua Yaro despite the lure of Major League Soccer and a history of solid offensive production, Georgetown was set to be a powerhouse team on both sides of the field. Yaro and senior forward Brandon Allen were named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List, which compiles the players most likely to win the award for the best college soccer player in the nation. In addition, Yaro and Allen were named the Big East Preseason Defensive and Offensive Players of the Year, respectively. If that weren’t enough, sophomore midfielder Arun Basuljevic, who was named the Big East Freshman of the Year last season after scoring six goals in his debut season, returned to campus a year older and more experienced. Junior forward Alex Muyl and junior midfielder Bakie Goodman also returned after productive sophomore seasons. Despite all of this, No. 25 Georgetown floundered when its season began, going winless in its first three matches. “This is maybe the most talented team I’ve ever had, and we were off to the worst start I’ve ever had. So how do you justify that? As a coach you don’t sleep a lot, you try to figure out what’s going on and you try to find out who has the Georgetown soccer voodoo doll; they’re sticking pins into us to start the season,” Head Coach Brian Wiese said. In part, the team’s struggles were due to injury, as Yaro, senior defender Josh Turnley and senior defender Cole Seiler suffered injuries in recent games. Turnley and Seiler, however, were able to return for the team’s most recent game, and they both made an impact as the Hoyas earned their first win in dramatic fashion, 3-1 over UCLA (2-2-1), which was the topranked team in the nation at the time. “I’m really proud of the performance from the guys against a team that may be a College Cup kind of team at the end of the day,” Wiese said.
Georgetown will look to build momentum after the win as it moves forward into its schedule. Freshman goalkeeper J.T. Marcinkowski has been a standout early in the season, making several spectacular saves in recent games. “[Marcinkowski] has been unbelievable,” senior midfielder/defender Keegan Rosenberry said after the win over UCLA. “He’s got great confidence for a freshman, and for a goalkeeper that’s huge. And the back line certainly appreciates it.” Wiese echoed Rosenberry’s praise. “J.T. in goal, as a freshman, that guy continues to be special,” Wiese said. Despite the injuries that have plagued the team early on, the Hoyas still count depth as one of their key strengths. Late in games, Wiese has been able to use his deep roster to substitute liberally, which allows him to get fresh players into the game. “It’s nice to have so many good players.
We’re so deep this year … and it pays off, especially come late minutes in the game when we have to sub guys on, and we take advantage of that,” Rosenberry said. Another advantage for the Hoyas may come from their home crowd. Georgetown set a record for student attendance with 905 fans in attendance at the Akron game Sept. 4, only to promptly break that record with 933 fans in attendance for the game against UCLA on Sept 7. “[The crowd support] has gotten so much better over the years, and the fans have been awesome to start the year so far. It’s so much easier for us to get up for a game, especially for a higher-ranked team when we’ve got a lot of fans beside us. It’s a lot of fun,” Rosenberry said. The Hoyas play their next game Saturday against Radford University (3-0-1) at Shaw Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
file photo: claire soisson/the Hoya
joshua yaro defender 2014 Big East Defensive Player of the Year Hermann Trophy Watch List First Team All-Big East
file photo: julia hennrikus/the Hoya
cole seiler defender
defender josh turnley (11)
file photo: julia hennrikus/the Hoya
Big East All-Academic Team Has started 65 of 70 games in his career Led defense to 34 shutouts in three seasons
the sideline by hoya blue traditions We are not legally allowed to encourage inappropriate heckling. That being said, we stand on the field behind the goal, in earshot of the other team’s goalie.”
home Schedule 9/12 vs. Radford at 1 p.m. 9/23 vs. Maryland at 4 p.m. 9/26 vs. Providence at 1 p.m. 10/10 vs. Butler at 12 p.m.
10/14 vs. Marquette at 3 p.m. 10/28 vs. Seton Hall at 2 p.m. 11/5 vs. Creighton at 2 p.m.
fan moment
The team’s 2012 appearance in the Nationa pionship game. Or better yet, beating Syracuse in the Sweet Sixteen in overtime la
the hoya | 3
Experienced Defense Returns for 2015 Season
defender keegan rosenberry Andrew May Hoya Staff Writer
Entering its 2015 season, the No. 25 Georgetown men’s soccer team (1-2-1 overall, 0-0-0 Big East) boasted a defense that had the potential to be the envy of the NCAA. All four starters — seniors Cole Seiler, Josh Turnley and Keegan Rosenberry and junior Joshua Yaro — returned for the Hoyas, creating a back line to be reckoned with. In 2015, all four players became co-captains. The defense was expected to lead the way for a team with national championship ambitions. Those expectations seemed warranted. Yaro was named Big East Preseason Defensive Player of the Year just prior to the start of the 2015 season. He could have been the No. 1 overall MLS draft pick had he not chosen to return to school. His talent has drawn the attention and praise of teammates, opponents and professional scouts. Not to be overlooked, however, are the
file photo: julia hennrikus/the Hoya
three seniors who have seen extended minutes on defense since 2013. Seiler and Rosenberry started for the Hoyas in the national championship game in 2012 and have been starters ever since. Turnley stepped into the starting 11 the following year. The experience gained by spending several seasons competing as college athletes is an extremely valuable asset. “They’re all superior athletically now. When they were freshmen, they were always athletic. Now they are men playing with boys, as opposed to athletic boys playing with men,” Head Coach Brian Wiese said. In addition to the on-the-field growth enjoyed by Seiler, Rosenberry and Turnley, the three of them have taken larger leadership roles as well.Seiler is the most vocal member of the defense, martialing his teammates into position. Rosenberry and Turnley are motivational forces in their own ways, and all three possess four years of wisdom to share with their younger teammates.
“A lot of it is leadership. They know what they are doing, and they are teaching guys around them,” Wiese said. Georgetown had a daunting defense on paper as it took the field for its first match of the year. It seemed so solid that Wiese felt comfortable moving Rosenberry up to the midfield in that game. Then the injuries hit. Turnley hurt his shoulder in the season opener and missed the next two matches. Yaro has yet to return from a leg injury suffered in the second game of the season. Seiler nearly missed the victory over UCLA because of knocks to his knee and ankle picked up earlier in the weekend. “The challenge of our season so far is that we’ve had our vaunted back four, this big, hyped group. It’s warranted,” Wiese said. “It’s the best back four I think I’ll have ever been around. But we’ve only had them for all of 25 minutes of the season.” Instead of the seasoned veterans, Wiese has turned to a series of fresh faces. Fresh-
men defenders Brendan McDonough, Peter Schropp and Kyle Zajec and junior defender P.J. Koscher have all started games for the Hoyas this season. The performances of these players have been mixed so far. McDonough looked strong against UCLA, using his size to disrupt attacks by a talented Bruins’ offense. Zajec, a converted midfielder who is still learning the defender position, seemed lost at times against Akron. Of course, he still has plenty of time at Georgetown to grow into a defensive role. The fact that any of these players has been called upon speaks to their talent and ability. Despite this young talent, the team will certainly be both relieved and excited to see its first-choice starters return to health. When that day comes, the Georgetown defense may truly begin to live up to its lofty potential. “We’ve had guys who have come in and done, to their credit, a really good job,” Wiese said. “The good news is that, knock on wood, we’re starting to get healthy.”
fall sports sports preview preview 2015 2015 46 || fall
SAILING
Snow Leads Pursuit of National Championship
Tyler Park
Hoya Staff Writer
In six of the past 10 years, a member of the Georgetown sailing team has won the Everett B. Morris Memorial Trophy for the Marlow Ropes College Sailor of the Year. Current senior Nevin Snow is the most recent example of the program’s run of dominance, capturing the award in 2015 after finishing as runner-up in 2014. The program has established an environment that emphasizes teamwork and teaching. The team’s upperclassmen consistently work with the younger sailors in order to help them acclimate to the collegiate circuit, which in turn helps the younger sailors in competition. “We always have the upperclassmen looking out for the underclassmen to make sure that everyone’s making the right decisions and doing the right things. We want to make sure they’re just regular Georgetown students who don’t burden themselves with too much stuff right from the beginning and settle into their own routine,” Head Coach Michael Callahan said. Snow, a three-time All-American, will return for his senior season looking to assume a larger role as a leader. “With stuff like College Sailor of the Year I obviously felt pressure to succeed on individual terms,” Snow said. “Now as a senior, it’s really coming full circle, and I want to make sure that I push and try to be as good of a leader as I can, to make sure that we put ourselves in a position to win the team nationals.” Although Snow will undoubtedly take on an important role on this year’s team, he is far from the only talented sailor who will suit up for Georgetown this season. Senior Isabelle Luzuriaga was named an Intercollegiate Sailing Association Crew AllAmerican last year and will return looking to earn her second All-American honor. In addition, the team will bring in a talented class of freshmen. Callahan thinks particularly highly of Haddon Hughes, who is expected to pair with sophomore Lola Bushnell to form a formidable tandem. “Our new freshman class is one of the more talented ones we’ve had in the last years,” Callahan said. “For the girls, we have Haddon Hughes from Houston, Texas,
courtesy georgetown sports information office
Nevin snow one of the best singlehanded sailors in the country. … So we’re excited to have her this year. Last year we recruited a great freshman, who’s now a sophomore, in Lola Bushnell, and Lola and Haddon will make a very good team.” The team will begin its fall schedule Saturday, Sept. 12. Georgetown will send some of its best female sailors, including Bushnell and Hughes, to the Women’s Radial Regatta. In addition, three Hoyas will be entered in the co-ed Navy Laser Open, while some of the team’s freshmen will compete in the
Riley Cup. The Navy Laser Open and the Women’s Radial Regatta will take place in Annapolis, Md., while the Riley Cup is in Norfolk, Va. Later in the fall, the team will compete in several more events, including the New York Maritime Fall Regatta, the Tom Curtis Regatta, the South #1 Regatta, the Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association Men’s and Women’s Singlehanded Championships and the MAISA Match Race Championship. At several of those events, the Hoyas will look to build on past success, as they will
be defending champions at the Tom Curtis Regatta, the South #1 Regatta and the MAISA Match Race Championship. In addition, Snow will defend his title at the Men’s Singlehanded Championships in October. Over the course of the year, however, the team has its eye on a more prestigious prize. “My goal for this year, especially coming off a successful individual season last year, is really to bring it full circle,” Snow said. “Since I’ve been at Georgetown we haven’t won the co-ed team nationals. All the individual stuff was just icing; it’s time to really win the whole thing.”
the sideline by hoya blue traditions Being really freakishly good at this sport.”
upcoming Schedule 9/12 Navy Laser Open 9/12 Riley Cup 9/12 Women’s Radial Regatta 9/19 Nevins Trophy
9/19 NY Maritime Fall Regatta 9/26 Laser Qualifiers 9/26 Women’s Singlehanded 9/26 St. Mary’s Intersectional
fan moment When the Georgetown sailing team won the Team Race Conference Championship last season.”
the thehoya hoya||57
CROSS COUNTRY
Hoyas Aim to Replicate Last Season’s Success Madeline Auerbach
place finish at the championship. Nadel finished 37th overall, while Keklak finished just three seconds after her to nab 40th place. Last fall, the Georgetown men’s and wom- Other top returners on the women’s side inen’s cross country teams closed out their sea- clude seniors Haley Pierce and Sarah Cotton. The men’s team returns several key athsons with two top-20 finishes at the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. Led by All- letes who have led the Hoyas to top finishes in American senior Katrina Coogan, the wom- meets throughout the regular season. Senior en’s team placed fourth in the race behind Darren Fahy and junior Jonathan Green finMichigan State, Iowa State and New Mexico. ished second and third, respectively, among Graduate student John Murray was the first the Hoyas in the 2014 NCAA Championships. to finish for the men’s team, helping the In the offseason, Fahy finished 10th overall at Hoyas to a 17th-place finish behind Big East the USA Track & Field Championships in the 3000-meter steeplechase. competitors Villanova and Providence. “You’ve got some athletes that now have This year, the Hoyas have the talent and the attitude to repeat this success, led by new Di- experience on the national stage and are coming off a great, great rector of Track & Field season,” Smith said. “Darand Cross Country Miren Fahy is coming off chael Smith. Smith rea huge 2015 outdoor placed Patrick Henner track season. … John in the wake of multiple Green qualified for the investigations into the NCAA meet outdoors track program over the and has had a lot of sucsummer. cess in the distances, In the rankings reso we’re really excited leased by the U.S. Track about him being in the & Field and Cross Counmix as well.” try Coaches AssociaBoth the men’s and tion, the Georgetown the women’s seasons women are ranked fifth will begin this Saturday. in the country behind The men will travel to Iowa State, New Mexico, head coach michael smith Annapolis, Md. for the Michigan State and ColoNavy Invitational, while rado. The men are curthe women will compete in the James Madirently occupying the 16th slot nationally. Both the men’s and women’s teams lost son Invitational in Harrisonburg, Va. “In the early-season cross country meets, key players, including Coogan. Coogan is a graduate student this year and will be eligible these are opportunities for testing grounds for track and field, but not for cross-country for athletes’ fitness. Most of them haven’t because she has already used her four years of raced since May or June at the end of the eligibility. Although Coogan’s absence from track season, it’s a good place for us to check the Hoyas’ starting seven is certainly detri- in on the general conditioning of the athmental, it opens up an opportunity for other lete,” Smith said. In the long term, the ultimate goal is to athletes to obtain leadership positions and return to the NCAA Championships and strive for that No. 1 spot. “Any time you have someone like a Katrina improve the results from last season. Even not with you, it’s certainly a loss, but what’s though both the men’s and women’s sides lost really exciting about that is it kind of clears key runners, both Fahy and Nadel have posithe way for other people to step up, and that’s tive outlooks on the season. “We lost some important guys, but I think the really fun part as a coach on the women’s we can probably do better than we did last year side right now,” Smith said. Senior All-American Samantha Nadel at NCAAs,” Fahy said. “I think top 10 at NCAAs and graduate student All-American Andrea would be good in cross country.” “On the team level, the goal is always to win Keklak were two individuals who, in addition to Coogan, led the Blue and Gray to its fourth- nationals,” Nadel said.
Hoya Staff Writer
andrea keklak
courtesy georgetown sports information office
“You’ve got some athletes that now have experience on the national stage and are coming off a great, great season.”
the sideline by hoya blue traditions Playing pick-up games in Yates FIeld House against the team members and being out-hustled and outrun.”
Schedule Men’s 9/12 Navy Invitational 10/2 Paul Short Invitational 10/17 Pre-National Meet
Women’s 9/12 JMU Invitational 9/25 Coast-to-Coast Battle 10/2 Paul Short Invitational 10/17 Pre-National Meet
fan moment When the women’s cross country team won the National Championship in 2011.”
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6 | fall sports preview 2015
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Talented Upperclassmen Lead Hoya Offense Molly O’Connell Hoya Staff Writer
You cannot win if you do not score. This adage rings true in nearly all sports, but it holds a special significance in soccer, where goals are particularly hard to come by. Fortunately, the Georgetown women’s soccer team (3-2-0) began its 2015 season with an offense that has had little trouble finding the back of the net. The Hoyas have scored 10 goals in just five games and have been shut out only once. Collectively, the team has already taken 80 shots, while its opponents have tallied only 42. The team’s offensive success can largely be attributed to three dynamic forwards who have each stepped up to lead the Hoyas’ attack. For graduate student forward Audra Ayotte, junior forward Grace Damaska and senior forward Crystal Thomas, the statistics speak for themselves. Together, Ayotte and Damaska have scored 60 percent of the team’s goals this season, netting three goals apiece thus far. “Audra, Crystal and myself are really starting to click,” Damaska said. “We are all very dynamic players with speed and quickness. Audra and Crystal’s skill on the ball is really helpful going at people, whereas I am more helpful getting in behind and using my speed to attack. We complement each other very well.” Two of Ayotte’s three goals have been gamewinners, demonstrating that she is not only a capable goal-scorer, but also has a knack for scoring at the most crucial moments. “Audra is a very smart soccer player. She has
a great feel for the game,” Head Coach Dave Nolan said. “She has enough experience and composure in the box that she should be scoring goals, and she has [been].” Damaska has taken nine shots this season. Seven of those shots have been on net, making her the team leader in both shots on goal and shots on goal percentage with 77.8 percent. Thomas, who transferred from Notre Dame last year and was ineligible for her junior season, has not been able to find the back of the net yet with the Hoyas. However, she is no stranger to goal-scoring. During her standout freshman season, Thomas led the Fighting Irish in scoring, netting 10 goals to go along with two assists and a team-best 25 shots on goal. This season, Thomas has already recorded two assists for the Hoyas. She has also taken a team-high 17 shots, nearly a quarter of the team’s total. It likely won’t be long before one of those shots finds its way past an opposing team’s goalkeeper. “[Thomas] brings a lot of energy. I expected to her to have scored a few goals by now. She would be the first one to admit that when the chances have come her way, she hasn’t taken them,” Nolan said. Despite the team’s early offensive accomplishments, Nolan still feels that there is room for improvement. Specifically, he would to like to see his team capitalize on more offensive opportunities. “I still don’t feel we are scoring enough goals. I think we are waiting for that one breakout game,” Nolan said. “It’s not like we haven’t had chances. In this weekend’s games, we’re hoping to score a little bit more.”
audra ayotte forward
grace damaska forward
2014 4 goals 4 assists 11 shots on goal
2014 5 goals 5 assists 17 shots on goal
It is not surprising that Nolan is expecting to rely on increased offensive production from Ayotte, Damaska and Thomas, in particular. “I am looking for both Grace and Audra to finish the season with at least 10 goals,” Nolan said. Additionally, Nolan anticipates that once Thomas finds the back of the net for the first time, it will be hard for opponents to continue to keep her off the score sheet.
GU Looks to Adjust After Roster Turnover Peter Higgins Hoya Staff Writer
In a season of considerable turnover, the Georgetown women’s soccer team (3-2-0) is looking to exceed expectations and prove that it can succeed. “I think we’re slated for third [in the Big East] right now, so that bothers me a little bit,” senior midfielder Marina Paul said. Led by a solid group of upperclassmen including Paul, graduate student goalkeeper Emma Newins and senior forward Sarah Adams, the Hoyas will try to improve on last season’s 11-5-6 overall record. The team hopes to carry over its strong conference play from last season; it finished 6-1-2 against Big East opponents. “We want to win the Big East in the regular season, and definitely want to win the tournament this year,” Newins said. “The past two years, we’ve lost in the finals, so it would be great if we could win the tournament and then make it as far as we can in the NCAAs.” In order to prepare for its Big East matchups, the team is playing a challenging outof-conference schedule, which has yielded
uneven results thus far. “The nature of the Big East conference on the women’s side is that it’s not as strong and it’s not as challenging as it has been in the past with the changes in conference membership, not as challenging as it has been. Unfortunately, what that means is that you have to really bump up your nonconference schedule, which is the early part of the season. We’ve really made it a very difficult nonconference schedule,” Head Coach Dave Nolan said. Georgetown’s first regular season game this year was Aug. 21 against James Madison. In a strong performance, the team came away with a 4-3 victory. Junior forward Grace Damaska scored two goals in the game, leading an effective Georgetown offense. “We’ve identified some weaknesses so far, but we have a lot of threats on offense, which is a good sign. We’re able to score a lot of goals,” Newins said. One of the keys to Georgetown’s season lies in the development of its new team members. Senior forward Crystal Thomas, a transfer from Notre Dame, and Paul, returning from a major injury, will
see significant minutes despite the fact that they didn’t play much for the team last year. Moreover, the Hoyas have seven freshmen on the roster, several of whom will push for significant playing time. “With freshmen, you never really know what you’re going to get. Even the most talented and prepared kids come in sometimes and find it difficult to adjust to the college game,” Nolan said. “The two [who have stood out] would be [forward] Caitlin Farrell from Connecticut and Megan Shaver, who’s a midfielder from the West Coast.” With such turnover, the Hoyas will look to new faces for leadership, particularly af-
ter the graduation of former star midfielder Daphne Corboz. “Our team over the past seven years has always been centered around one particular player, whether it be Ingrid Wells, Kelly D’Ambrisi, or for the last three or four years, Daphne Corboz. Now, we’re looking for a bit more balance,” Nolan said. “We’ve seen flashes of really good playing from Grace Damaska, Crystal Thomas, [sophomore midfielder] Rachel Corboz and Audra Ayotte. So, we’re just trying to get all four of those guys producing on a consistent level because I think that’s what we need in order to be successful.”
“Crystal is our best finisher, and normally when the ball is at her feet and she is in a goal scoring opportunity, it’s a goal,” Nolan said. “Once the first [goal] comes, we’re going to start seeing a lot more [from Thomas].” With Ayotte, Damaska and Thomas leading the team’s offense, the Georgetown community is bound to see some impressive soccer in the Hoyas’ offensive third.
forward sarah adams
file photo: julia hennrikus/the Hoya
midfielder marina paul (5)
file photo: claire soisson/the Hoya
the sideline by hoya blue traditions
Forward grace damaska
Bring a ton of energy to the seats of Shaw, and enjoy some really, really good soccer.” file photo: Nate moulton/the Hoya
home Schedule 9/13 vs. Virginia Tech at 1 p.m. 10/4 vs. Xavier at 1 p.m. 10/8 vs. St. John’s at 3 p.m.
10/18 vs. Marquette at 1 p.m. 10/22 vs. Seton Hall at 3 p.m. 10/30 vs. Creighton at 2 p.m.
fan moment Literally anytime a Corboz sister touches the ball, it is an automatic favorite fan moment.”
8 | fall sports preview 2015
VOLLEYBALL
McKnight Among 9 Newcomers for Revamped GU kara avanceña Hoya Staff Writer
While universities across the country welcome their newest students to campus in the fall, varsity teams are also welcoming newcomers. From initiating athletes into their teams and their cultures to introducing new players to tougher collegiate competition, the fall season prompts upperclassmen to begin their leadership roles on their respective squads. For this year’s Georgetown volleyball team (3-4), the standard, universal experience of welcoming and teaching new players will be particularly challenging. Of the 12 players listed on the team’s roster, nine players are first-time Hoyas — leaving only three players returning from last season. “You always have freshmen coming in, but it’s a little different [of a] situation [this year] because we’re outnumbered,” senior outside hitter Lauren Saar said. Of the 13 players listed on last year’s roster, six players graduated in May and four eligible players chose not to return this season. This leaves Saar, junior middle blocker Ashlie Williams and junior setter Caitlin Brauneis as the only returning players. “We knew very early on that we were only going to have three returners,” Head Coach Arlisa Williams said. “The three that have returned — Lauren, Caitlin and Ashley — have done a phenomenal job, but this is something they started preparing for since last spring, so their ability to lead, their attitude, how positive they are is very, very contagious.” While the responsibility of leading a young team through its first year at Georgetown is one that the three returners undertook without much choice, Saar expressed her eagerness to take on the challenge and set the building blocks for the revamped volleyball program. “It’s really exciting having a fresh new start with all of the new freshmen and a transfer that we have, so we really want to take it as an opportunity to create the new culture,” Saar said.
As the team develops its new brand of Georgetown volleyball, the freshmen are ensuring that their early successes and energy will be incorporated into the team culture. Setter Paige McKnight leads the team with 9.15 assists per set and outside hitter Alyssa Sinnette registered a 20-kill and 21-dig effort against Robert Morris (5-2) Sept. 4, which was Georgetown’s first recorded 20-20 performance since 2012. In addition, middle blocker Symone Speech leads the team among players who have played in all 24 sets of the season with a .361 hitting percentage. “[This recruiting class was] ranked No. 29 by PrepVolleyball out of 332 Division I programs, so we knew that they were going to be a talented class,” Coach Williams said. “As they come in, they’re just stepping on the floor and taking care of business the way that we need them to.” With several new faces eager to make an impact on the team and Brauneis indefinitely sidelined due to an injury, Coach Williams said that the starting lineup will be flexible as the schedule unfolds. “As the season goes on, as players get more experienced, as we continue to improve, the six on the floor could very well stay [as] it is right now, but it is fluid and everyone has an opportunity to compete and get better at practice every day,” Coach Williams said. The Hoyas, who have not had a winning overall record since 2012, will certainly face tough teams throughout their season, such as the Big East favorite Creighton (2-4). For Georgetown, a team focused on building a foundation to carry the team this season and for years to come, success will be defined beyond the numbers recorded in the wins and losses columns. “Right now, what would make for a successful season for Georgetown volleyball is for us to have a great culture, for us to really facilitate and foster that family environment, to have every single one of these players walking out feeling valued in this program and knowing that they’re part of the family and that they are loved,” Coach Williams said.
Outside Hitter Lauren Saar (8) & middle blocker ashlie williams (7)
file photo: Nate moulton/the Hoya
the sideline by hoya blue traditions Pack McDonough Arena. Go wild just about every time we score.”
Home Schedule 9/16 vs. George Washington at 7 p.m. 9/25 vs. Villanova at 7 p.m. 9/27 vs. Seton Hall at 2 p.m. 10/9 vs. Marquette at 7 p.m. 10/11 vs. DePaul at 3 p.m.
10/23 vs. St. John’s at 8 p.m. 10/25 vs. Providence at 2 p.m. 11/13 vs. Butler at 8 p.m. 11/15 vs. Xavier at 1 p.m. 11/20 vs. Creighton at 8 p.m.
fan moment Any time a Georgetown player makes a diving dig. Plus, I hear they have some great promotions in store this year.”
the hoya | 9
FIELD HOCKEY
Hoyas Seek to Capitalize on Early Momentum Madeline Auerbach & Claire Schansinger Hoya Staff Writers
After splitting its first four games, the Georgetown field hockey team (2-2) heads into its 2015 campaign with an optimistic outlook. With standout athletes such as junior forward Aliyah Graves-Brown and junior goalkeeper Rachel Skonecki leading the team, the Hoyas are working to improve their offensive production in order to earn better results in the Big East. The Hoyas began their season with two consecutive losses at home to Davidson (12) and Rider (4-0) in late August. Though Georgetown had solid opportunities throughout the game against Davidson, the Wildcats capitalized on a rebound to score the sole goal of the game. “I thought we pressured Davidson pretty well in the first half. We turned them over a lot in their defensive end; we just couldn’t execute the opportunities we were given,” Head Coach Shannon Soares said to
GUHoyas.com. Though the Hoyas’ next game was also a loss, they were able to start fresh and earn two wins in their next two games. Georgetown defeated La Salle (2-2) 1-0, marking the Hoyas’ first victory over the Explorers since 2010. Junior defender Molly Thompson scored the only goal of the game at the 31:05 mark in the second half. The Hoyas used this momentum to notch their second victory over St. Francis (1-3) Sunday afternoon in a 4-2 win. Four Hoyas scored in the game; Graves-Brown, junior defender Devin Holmes, senior forward Sarah Butterfield and freshman forward Helena Masiello. “I was pleased with the adjustments that we were able to make from Friday’s game against La Salle moving into today’s game against a tough St. Francis squad,” Soares said to GU Hoyas. “I thought we capitalized on a lot of the opportunities in our attacking circle, which gave us moments like Aliyah Graves-Brown’s goal.” After those four contests, Georgetown’s
forward sarah butterfield
file photo: julia hennrikus/the Hoya
nonconference record is third-best among Big East teams, behind 2014 NCAA champion UConn and Old Dominion. Temple, Villanova and Providence are ranked fourth, fifth and sixth in the Big East, respectively. Thus far in the season, Skonecki has recorded impressive statistics as the Hoyas’ goalkeeper. She has registered seven saves per game for the Hoyas and currently boasts a .875 save percentage. Last season, Skonecki started 17 games in net as a sophomore for the Hoyas and had a .667 save percentage. She also recorded four shutouts, ranking third all time in Georgetown field hockey history. Though juniors and seniors have the most experience heading into the 2015 season, the Hoyas have a team full of varying experience levels. Six new freshmen joined the roster this season, including Masiello, midfielder Sam Hickey, defender Katie Maransky, forward Hannah Sargent, forward Maddie Oswald and goalkeeper Chloe Verwiel. Masiello, a three-sport standout at Colum-
goalkeeper rachel skonecki
bia High School, is one of the key additions in 2015. She was selected as Big East Rookie of the Week and starts for the Hoyas in the forward position. Returning seniors include forward Callie Hiner, who started in eight games last season, and midfielder Louise Chakejain, who had a .600 shot on goal percentage last season. Graves-Brown has been consistently reliable on the offensive end for Georgetown. She appeared in all 18 games of her sophomore season, starting in 17 of them. She also led the team with six goals and added three assists in 2014. Georgetown will compete in a home game against VCU (1-3) this Friday and will play in its first big East game against Providence (0-4) Oct. 2. In a field of five other teams, the Hoyas have set a goal of winning at least two Big East games this season, which would qualify them for the Big East Tournament, the team’s ultimate long-term goal. Georgetown will face all of its Big East opponents in October.
file photo: julia hennrikus/the Hoya
the sideline by hoya blue traditions Yelling at the referee, despite not quite fully understanding the rules.”
home Schedule 9/11 vs. VCU at 1 p.m. 9/27 vs. Siena at 12 p.m.
10/16 vs. Villanova at 1 p.m. 10/31 vs. UConn at 12 p.m.
fan moment Corners are pretty cool in field hockey. Our coach seems to draw up brilliant plays that captivate the crowd every time we get one.”
10 | FALL SPORTS PREVIEW 2015
FOOTBALL
Veteran Players Lead Quest for Elusive Success TYLER PARK
Hoya Staff Writer
After finishing 3-8 in a difficult season, Georgetown’s football team (0-1) certainly has room for improvement. However, the team, led by second-year Head Coach Rob Sgarlata, is optimistic that it will find more success in 2015. Senior quarterback Kyle Nolan, who threw for 1,763 yards and nine touchdowns last year, is back to lead the team in his final season. “[Nolan] has done a great job in the past year and a half to learn and understand quickly what this offense is all about. He’s been here for the past two summers working extremely hard to improve his game in all aspects, and he’s been a great leader while doing that, in the weight room and on the field and in the film room,” Offensive Coordinator Michael Neuberger said. Nolan will be flanked by senior running back Joel Kimpela, a second team All-Patriot League selection in 2014. Kimpela rushed for 838 yards and three touchdowns last season, gaining that yardage with a strong 5.3 yards per carry. In addition, the team’s top three receivers from last season, senior wide receivers Jake DeCicco and Justin Hill and senior tight end Matthew Buckman, will return to form the core of a veteran offense. “It’s exciting [to return so many key players],” Nolan said. “Last year we weren’t sure of what we were doing. We had a lot of guys with experience but they were young guys with experience. With Jake and Justin in that leadership role, they know what they’re doing, and they’re not afraid to go out there, and if they make a mistake, they know that they made a mistake and they’re going to correct it.”
QUARTERBACK KYLE NOLAN
Defensively, the Hoyas will look to senior cornerback Ettian Scott, a preseason All-Patriot-League selection, to lead the defense. Sgarlata will rely on a pair of veterans to lead the pass rush as the team tries to replace graduated senior Alec May, who recorded a Patriot League-leading 16.5 sacks in 2014. “[Senior defensive lineman] Hunter Kiselick, one of our captains, and [junior defensive lineman] Phil Novacki [will be part of the effort to replace May]. Phil is one of the more athletic kids on our team, top to bottom. I don’t think you replace somebody like Alec; you just hope the next guys step up, and we’ve had a great tradition of really good defensive kids on this ballclub, especially up front,” Sgarlata said. In its season opener, Georgetown suffered a difficult defeat to St. Francis (Pa.) (1-0) by a score of 48-20. St. Francis used its powerful running game to overwhelm the Georgetown defense, rushing for 281 yards and three touchdowns. “Every team we play is going to have a good running back,” Sgarlata said. “St. Francis had two of them, they did a good job, but we need to tackle better in the open field, gang tackle and run to the football.” The Hoyas will play an 11-game schedule this season, including six Patriot League contests. However, the team is not interested in looking ahead, and is focused primarily on the tasks that are immediately in front of it. “Just getting better, working hard, every single day, that’s our goal, you know, get better. Coach is always telling us to get better and the rest will take care of itself,” Kimpela said. Georgetown will face Marist (0-1) in its home opener Saturday at 6 p.m. at MultiSport Facility.
FILE PHOTO: JULIA HENNRIKUS/THE HOYA
THE SIDELINE BY HOYA BLUE TRADITIONS Tailgate. Fire up the grill and grab a brew (if you are of age).”
HOME SCHEDULE 9/12 vs. Marist at 6 p.m. 9/19 vs. Dartmouth at 12 p.m. 10/10 vs. Lafayette at 2 p.m.
10/17 vs. Colgate at 1 p.m. 11/14 vs. Fordham at 12 p.m.
FAN MOMENT The 1941 Orange Bowl and the 1950 Sun Bowl were cool, but our favorite moment was around 1900 when our first dog mascot started appearing at games.”
the hoya | 11
Hill, DeCicco Prepare for Larger Roles Emma Conn
Hoya Staff Writer
In his second season as head coach for the Blue and Gray, Georgetown’s football Head Coach Rob Sgarlata will rely on several talented veterans as the Hoyas work to improve upon their 3-8 record from last season. Senior quarterback Kyle Nolan threw nine touchdowns last season and will be looking to hit familiar targets in senior wide receiver Jake DeCicco and junior wide receiver Justin Hill. Last season, DeCicco and Hill caught 43 receptions for 446 yards and 31 receptions for 401 yards, respectively. “[Having Hill and DeCicco back] is really important,” Sgarlata said. “We ask those guys to do a lot.” Although Hill only started in one season in high school, his career at the Hilltop has already been impressive. Hill saw playing time in all 11 of his games freshman year, starting in nine. In his sophomore season, Hill started all 11 games and recorded the first three touchdown receptions of his career. Hill is expected to be a key player in this offense, but moving forward, his role will not only be to perform on the field but also to continue leading the underclassmen to success on and off the field.
DeCicco, a versatile athlete, won many accolades during his high school career. His success has carried over into his college career as he has been one of the most important receivers on the team in the past two years. In his sophomore season, DeCicco played in all 11 games and started eight, finishing second on the team with 445 yards on 38 catches and scoring two touchdowns. Last season, DeCicco started all 11 games and led the team with 43 receptions and 466 yards, finishing the season with two touchdowns. DeCicco recently transitioned from an outside receiver to a slot receiver, but he noted that it wouldn’t change his game too much. “I’m just trying to be a crisp route runner,” DeCicco said. “That’s something that I really want to focus on, and I think we all can say that we try to improve on being better blockers. That’s something we pride ourselves on in our group.”
Similar to DeCicco, Hill has some skills on which he wants to work. “For me personally, [I’ve been working on] footwork and route work, getting in and out of my breaks and trying to get open,” Hill said. Both DeCicco and Hill have played alongside Nolan for two seasons now and are familiar with his style of play. “[Kyle and I] have just tried to build that trust with each other,” Hill said. “[We’ve worked on] knowing that we’re going to be in the right spots, and Jake Decicco I think we’ve Senior wide receiver done that pretty well up through the last couple of years.” In addition to their relationship with their quarterback, both Hill and DeCicco highlighted the role of the younger players. “We’ve just been working hard as a unit, we’ve definitely battled injury throughout camp, so a lot of the young guys had to step
“[The wide receivers] say in our meetings that we want to score 50 points. That’s the goal going into every week.”
Justin hill wide receiver
Jake Decicco wide receiver
2014 31 receptions 401 yards, 3 TDs
2014 43 receptions 446 yards, 2 TDs
Career 57 receptions 666 yards, 3 TDs
Career 82 receptions 904 yards, 4 TDs Running Back jo’el kimpela
up, but we have a good group with a lot of depth, so we’ve been pushing each other a lot,” DeCicco said. DeCicco also praised the team’s younger pass catchers, including sophomore wide receivers Justin Harrell and Jimmy McLaughlin and freshman wide receiver Brandon Williams, although Harrell is currently sidelined with an injury. “I think [the young wide receivers] have a lot of potential,” Hill said. “With the injuries throughout the camp, they had to step up and take a lot of those reps, and I think that was better for them.” As for the current season, DeCicco and Hill look to continue their success on the field as key players for the Hoyas’ offense. “We say in our meetings that we want to score 50 points,” DeCicco said. “That’s the goal going into every week. Obviously in week one we came up short on that, but we definitely feel that we’re in a good position and we left a lot of points on the field. So we want to score 50, that’s the goal of our unit.” This Saturday, Georgetown plays its homeopener against Marist under the lights at 6 p.m. The Hoyas will look to bounce back after a tough loss and earn the win in front of their home fans.
file photo: julia hennrikus/the Hoya
FRESH FACES ERICK CASTRO/THE HOYA
#18 Caitlin Farrell Freshman forward Women’s soccer
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#25 brendan mcdonough Freshman midfielder Men’s soccer
ERICK CASTRO/THE HOYA
#1 J.T. Marcinkowski Freshman goalkeeper Men’s soccer
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#11 Alyssa sinette Freshman outside hitter Volleyball