#8 Georgetown vs. #16 Virginia
The Hoyas found themselves in familiar territory against Syracuse, conceding the first goal for the second game in a row and needing overtime to ultimately defeat the Orange. Georgetown fell behind early in the second half when Alex Halis took advantage of a short corner by Syracuse to bury the ball past Hoya goalkeeper Tomas Gomez. Despite getting some good scoring opportunities in the first half, Georgetown’s chances diminished in the second half, as the Syracuse defense refused to bend, particularly during the run of play.
For a team that hadn’t scored on a corner kick all season long, relying on set pieces seemed like a hopeless cause for the Hoyas. However, streaks are meant to be broken, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for Georgetown. Senior midfielder Tyler Rudy delivered a corner to the far post, which was headed by Keegan Rosenberry into the opposite corner of the net, tying the game in the 80th minute. The teams would need overtime to decide the winner, and it didn’t take long for the Hoyas to respond. Rudy delivered another quality corner kick in the fourth minute of overtime, this time to the near post, which senior defender Jared Rist headed into the back of the net, sending Georgetown to the Elite Eight for the second time in school history.
For the Virginia Cavaliers, it was a monumental weekend for the school’s soccer program. The women’s team defeated UCLA 2-1 Friday evening, ending the Bruins’ 44-game unbeaten streak and ousting the reigning champs (and No. 1 team in the country) from the tournament. The men’s team faced a similar task, as Notre Dame came in as the No. 1 seed and defending national champions.
Notre Dame and Virginia both played a smart and disciplined game, possessing the ball equally well and keeping their shape on defense. Even without captain and leading scorer Eric Bird, Virginia looked confident in its game plan. Scoring chances proved to be few and far between, and it took 82 minutes for a goal to finally come. Virginia sophomore Nicko Corriveau found the ball at his feet after a free kick into the box was redirected, rifling the ball into the lower left corner of the net in what proved to be the game winner. It’s the second straight year that UVA is headed to the Elite Eight and the 19th time in school history.
Georgetown is fortunate enough to be hosting a third straight tournament game at Shaw Field, where the Hoyas have lost only twice this season. However, the Cavaliers should have plenty of momentum on their side, especially since they’ve already won on the road. It’s uncertain whether Eric Bird will be available for the Cavaliers, but Virginia has been successful thus far in his absence, so a return to full health will only bolster their line-up. This should be a tight game between two quality defenses, and goals will likely be at a premium.
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