Louisville, Ky. - The Georgetown University men's soccer team snapped a four-game losing streak with a 1-0 win at Louisville on Sunday afternoon in BIG EAST action. The Hoyas played with six freshmen in the starting lineup, including goalkeeper Matthew Brutto (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South), who posted a shutout in his first career start. Sophomore Scott Larrabee (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif./South Bay Soccer Club) netted the eventual game-winner in the 25th minute with Hunter Joslin (Seattle, Wash./Eastlake) and Ibukun Otegbeye (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park) picking up assists. GU improves to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in league play. Georgetown concluded a season-long seven-game road trip.
Louisville (4-3-0, 2-5-0) had a penalty kick in the fourth minute but junior Aaron Clapham's attempt went wide. Six minute later, the Cardinals hit the inside of the post with a shot but the Hoyas were able to clear the carom.
Larrabee recorded his second career goal in the 25th minute. Joslin played a ball to Otegbeye in the corner. Otegbeye, who was in the starting lineup for the first time, crossed a ball towards the goal where Larrabee struck from the back post.
The Hoyas took a lead into intermission for the first time this season.
Louisville's Ryan McDonald headed a ball off the post in the 56th minute trying for the equalizer but again GU was able to clear.
The Cardinals held a 17-10 shot advantage.
Brutto finished with seven saves in net for Georgetown.
"It certainly makes for a happy ride home," said second year head coach Brian Wiese. "We finally finished our road trip and we'll welcome the upcoming homestand.
"(Goalkeeper) Joe Devine was questionable with pulled calf so we gave (Matthew) Brutto a go. Alex Verdi played for Lenny Coleman, who sat out after picking up a red card on Friday. Defender Mark Zeman was penciled to start but was scratched with a stomach virus so Ibukun started his first game.
"Fundamentally, the guys were just tired of losing and they were really hungry for a goal today. We struggled clearing the ball with Lenny unavailable and I never felt very comfortable until the final horn. I'm proud of our guys.
"We changed some combinations up front with (Peter) Grasso coming off the bench. He responded well. Who and where we played so far and our record doesn't indicate where I think we are as a team. We're starting to progress."
The Hoyas host Rutgers in GU's home opener on Friday, September 28 at 3 p.m. on North Kehoe Field. The game will be preceded by the Hoya women's soccer game against Seton Hall that kick offs at noon.
LMU Hands #7 Harvard First Loss, 3-2
Lions Gain Second Victory Over a Ranked Opponent
Sept. 21, 2007
Box Score
LMU registered its first victory over a top-10 team in a year, knocking off #7 Harvard 3-2 in a rainstorm Friday afternoon in the opening game of the LMU Invitational at Sullivan Field in Los Angeles. The Lions, who are in the midst of playing six ranked opponents in eight games, improve to 2-4-0 while handing the Crimson its first loss of the year to drop to 6-1-0.
LMU entered the game having scored one goal in its first five matches and dropping its last two games against ranked foes. Back at Sullivan Field for the first time since September 1, it didn't take long to snap a three match scoreless drought. Junior Jawaan Delaney, making his first start as a forward, made the move pay off within the first five minutes. Junior Brad Stisser and redshirt freshman Josh Carroll provided the build-up but Delaney provided the technical finish, hitting a side-volley from 16 yards out that beat Harvard goalie Adam Hahn low to his right. It was Delaney's fifth career goal.
With the lead so early, the Lion defense was put under pressure for the remainder of the first half. Redshirt freshman Patrick Lane stopped three shots in the opening 45 minutes to send the Lions into the locker room one up at halftime.
The game picked up in the second half, along with the rain. The storm that had been scheduled to arrive early Friday afternoon finally started just as the teams kicked off for the second half but the Lions did not let it affect them, doubling their lead within 37 seconds of the restart. Freshman Rafael Baca made his way through the Crimson defense, firing a hard shot that was saved by a diving Hahn. The ball came right back to Baca, who fed a pass across the box to a wide open Carroll. Carroll's shot eluded the Harvard defenders and found the empty net for his first career goal.
There was still 44 minutes to play and the wet conditions meant no lead was safe. The Crimson pulled a goal back in the 62nd minute on a spectacular strike from Michael Fucito. Andre Akpan fed Fucito in the middle of the pitch, and Fucito lined up a 25-yard left-footed blast, rocketing the ball past Lane and in off the cross bar.
Harvard's momentum from its goal did not last long as the Lions restored their two-goal cushion just two minutes later. Off a free kick at the midfield stripe, sophomore Blayze Hanson (South Bay Soccer alumni) lofted a ball into the penalty area. Baca and his entire 5-8 frame rose above the Crimons defenders to flick the ball on to sophomore Steffen Canty, who poked the ball past Hahn for the first goal of his career.
Harvard made things interesting for the final 11 minutes with a goal at 78:11. Alex Chi and Jaren LaGreca worked the ball down the right, crossing to Akpan inside the six-yard box. Akpan redirected the ball into the net to make it 3-2 and everything to play for down the stretch.
As the rain continued to pelt down, the surface became slippery and unstable but the Lion defense held fast. Lane came off his line to save a header from Chi on the final Harvard chance of the match.
"This is a great win over a very good opponent," Head Coach Paul Krumpe said. "I'm very pleased with the 90 minute effort our team gave today and look forward to building upon this victory with another solid performance on Sunday against Columbia."
Lane finished the match with six saves while Hahn stopped two for the Crimson. Harvard out-shot LMU 15-11 and had a 3-2 advantage in corner kicks.
The Lions host Columbia on Sunday at 4 p.m. in the conclusion of the LMU Invitational.
