Georgetown secures 4th straight BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Championship

WASHINGTON – The No. 2 seed Georgetown women’s soccer team downed the No. 1 seed Xavier Musketeers in the BIG EAST Championships final 2-0 on Sunday at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Maryland.

With the win, the Hoyas captured their fourth-consecutive BIG EAST title and clinched the BIG EAST’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.

Twelve minutes into the match, Eliza Turner played a ball back to Emma Davis who found Allie Winstanley on the left flank. Winstanley beat her defender and ripped a shot from outside of the box to the far post giving GU an early 1-0 lead.

ALLIE WINSTANLEY!!!? Hoyas lead 1-0!#HoyaSaxa pic.twitter.com/nu26DH66rd

— Georgetown Women’s Soccer (@HoyasWSoc) November 5, 2023

Georgetown continued to press the Musketeers, but Xavier was able to generate some chances taking five shots in the first 25 minutes to GU’s two. GU looked the more dangerous team in the first 45 minutes recording eight shots to Xavier’s two as the Hoyas took a 1-0 lead into the break.

Xavier came out of the break pressing the Hoyas, but GU matched the Musketeer energy and was able to fend off their early attacking efforts.

In the 61st minute, Turner played a ball to Winstanley on the right flank. Winstanley took a touch and played a ball to the back post where Maja Lardner was waiting. Lardner took a touch to settle the ball and blasted a shot into the top left corner, doubling the Hoya lead.

MAJA LARDNER DOUBLES THE HOYA LEAD!#HoyaSaxa pic.twitter.com/yxb7RyKv6T

— Georgetown Women’s Soccer (@HoyasWSoc) November 5, 2023

GU was able to fend off the Musketeers comeback efforts securing a 2-0 victory earning GU its fourth-consecutive BIG EAST title.

“Obviously we are very happy to win this game and win the championship,” said Georgetown Head Coach Dave Nolan. “It’s our eighth final in a row and to win seven of the eight is just incredible. Today’s game was probably the toughest as Xavier has a very tough and uncompromising style and they make it difficult on opposing teams and they made us earn it.”

“It is a great feeling, and we look forward to the draw tomorrow and hopefully ourselves and Xavier should be seeded well and have a decent draw,” said Nolan. “We are hoping we can see Providence and UConn in the tournament as they are two teams that are very worthy.”

Brianne Riley was named the Most Outstanding Defender of the tournament and Winstanley was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the tournament. Riley, Natalie Means, Lardner and Erika Harwood were named to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team.

Georgetown will await to hear its first-round matchup in the NCAA tournament. The selection show will take place November 6 at 4 p.m. ET on NCAA.com.