Georgetown Hoyas
Overall Rank: #5
Conference Rank: #1 Big East
Georgetown Team Page
After years of working to build a program that could compete on a national level, Georgetown broke through in a huge way in 2012. The Hoyas magical season started on opening day when they knocked off Virginia. It would take 11 more games before the Hoyas actually lost. Of course, the most memorable moments were in the NCAA Tournament. Coach Brian Wiese’s squad knocked off Charlotte and Syracuse before beating San Diego 3-1 with a trip to Hoover, Alabama on the line. Georgetown slipped past Maryland in an epic semifinal, but did not have enough to win the title, falling 1-0 to Indiana. Now it is time to keep the good times rolling and prove that last season was not a fluke.
2012 Record: 19-4-3, 6-2-0
2012 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Brian Wiese
Strengths:
With the return of Steven Neumann and Brandon Allen, there is a very good case to be made that this team can not just get back to the College Cup, but come home champions. Neumann could have left for the professional ranks, but is back for his senior season instead and that is absolutely huge for this program. During his first three seasons with the Hoyas, Neumann has scored 31 goals and tallied 28 assists. His ability to finish himself or setup his teammates is a perfect with the pure scoring ability by his side in Allen. Allen found the back of the net 16 times as a freshman and the rest of the Big East will not be able to consistently stop Neumann and Allen. Often lost in the hoopla that is Allen and Neumann is the fact that there are a couple quality keepers on this team. Tomas Gomez started 20 games between the pipes, recording seven shutouts, while Keon Parsa did well during his time in net too. Gomez will be the regular starter again, but he could be much busier this season.
Weaknesses:
Without defenders Jimmy Nealis and Tommy Muller, there are some big shoes to fill in the back. Nealis was the 37th overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft, while Muller was selected 17th overall. Keegan Rosenberry and Cole Seller had fine freshmen campaigns and will have to emerge as the leaders in the back. Neumann and Allen can create opportunities for themselves, yet they do need some quality build up from the midfield and there are a lot of new faces that will have to provide it. Ian Christianson, who was also drafted, Andy Reimer and John Snyder are gone and leave some big holes to fill in their wake. Joey Dillon started all 26 contests in 2012 and Tom Skelly and Tyler Rudy were part-time starters, so there is some experience on hand, yet they may not be as effective feeding the scorers up top.
Final Projection:
The target is squarely on the backs of Georgetown this year and that is something this team is not used to. With teams like Notre Dame, Connecticut and Louisville no longer in the Big East, the conference slate will not be too difficult. Creighton and Marquette sport great squads this year and it should come down to those two and Georgetown in the end. The Hoyas start off conference play with the Bluejays at home and that game could go a long way in determining how the Big East conference title chase shapes up.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
Goals: Brandon Allen, Sophomore, F, 16
Assists: Steve Neumann, Senior, F, 13
Shots: Steve Neumann, Senior, F, 96
Saves: Tomas Gomez, Junior, GK, 70
Madness 2014 MLS Draft Rankings:
#4 Steve Neumann
#19 Joey Dillon
Madness 2013 Men’s Soccer Recruit Rankings:
#27 Alex Muyl
#42 Brett Campbell
#82 Joshua Yaro
See All Men's Soccer Top 44 Team Previews
