WASHINGTON, D.C. - Georgetown University’s women’s soccer team earned its spot in the NCAA Championship Quarterfinals with a 2-0 victory over visiting No. 15 Virginia at Shaw Field on Sunday afternoon. The fifth-ranked Hoyas match their deepest postseason run in program history, an Elite Eight appearance in 2010, with their program record 19th win of the season.
Battling cold temperatures and blustery winds the entire day, the inclement weather seemed to push both teams off their game from the start. A combined two shots highlighted the opening 45 minutes of action as Georgetown (19-2-3) was playing against the wind and Virginia (15-5-2) couldn’t capitalize with the gusts on their side.
With the wind at their backs, the Hoyas struck early to start the second half. Georgetown picked up the opening score on an own goal by Virginia that was set up almost perfectly by the Blue & Gray. Rachel Corboz (Green Brook, N.J./Pingry) started the play with a corner kick from the right side, feeding Chloe Knott (Auckland, New Zealand/Rangitoto College) who launched a cross into the middle of the box. In an attempt to clear the ball, the Cavalier defense redirected a header into the back of the net to give GU the 1-0 lead in the 47th minute.
Georgetown would add a cushion goal in the 77th minute. Setting up a free kick after a foul by Virginia, Corboz fired a rocket from 20 yards out to beat the outstretched UVA keeper far post.
“In the second half, I felt it was going to come down to either a bit of good fortune or a moment of bliss to separate the two teams,” Head Coach Dave Nolan said. “We got both, obviously, with the corner kick and the set piece. Then, of course, Rachel does what Rachel does which was brilliant.”
Virginia could only muster a pair of low-percentage shots the rest of the way, one blocked by the GU backline and the other saved easily by goalkeeper Arielle Schechtman (Del Mar, Calif./La Jolla Country Day/UCLA). Schechtman earned the shutout with the clean sheet, facing nine shots on the day but only two on target for a pair of saves.
Georgetown returns to action on Saturday, November 26, as it hosts the NCAA Quarterfinals at Shaw Field at noon. The Hoyas will face the winner of the match between Santa Clara and NC State.