GEORGETOWN
2012 RECORD: 9-8 (7-1, BIG EAST) COACH: RICKY FRIED (8TH YEAR)
QUAKERS 14
Feb 16 at Delaware Feb 23 Towson Mar 1 Princeton Mar 5 at Stanford Mar 9 Duke Mar 13 at Johns Hopkins Mar 16 at North Carolina Mar 22 Cincinnati Mar 24 Louisville Apr 6 at Loyola Apr 12 at Marquette Apr 14 at Notre Dame Apr 19 at Rutgers Apr 21 at Rutgers Apr 21 at Villanova Apr 26 Connecticut Apr 28 Syracuse
There’s no way to
sugarcoat it: Georgetown must tighten up its defense. And it starts in the goal. That’s why coach Ricky Fried made a concerted
effort to get junior goalie Barb Black untracked. By bringing in new assistant coach Meg Dentler, a former CAA Player of the Year as the goalie at George Mason, Fried has ensured Black and backup Abby Bisbee will receive more individual attention. In front of Black, the Hoyas’ defense allowed 11 goals per game in 2012, tied for 41st among Division I teams. “Barb has the ability,” Fried said. “She has quick hands and feet.” Fried also might make more use of Bisbee, noting that she had a surprisingly good fall campaign.
“Abby can come into games and bring a spark to the team,” he said. “She’s good at that.” Neither goalie has the
luxury of experienced defenders in front of her, considering two of Georgetown’s starters — Casey McGowan and M.J. Coyle — combined to play in just 13 games last season. Neither has ever started. The anchor is senior Ashley Hunter, who ranked second on the team with 24 caused turnovers in 2012. “We’re hoping our transition defense, with those veteran midfi elders, can help us down there,” Fried said.
Fried also will count on Georgetown’s draw control specialists to take pressure off the defense by keeping the ball away from rival offenses. But until the unit plays together and becomes a credible force, Georgetown could continue to be vulnerable against high-powered offenses. Opponents may look at McGowan and Coyle as the soft spot in the Hoyas’ backline. “It is where we’re thinnest,” Fried said. Fried’s signature get-after-it defense that emphasizes riding and gumming up enemy transition has become an institution at Georgetown. The Hoyas will run two midfi eld units to keep foes out of breath and out of scoring range.
If McGowan and Coyle grow into their roles and match Fried’s expectations, the chances of the Hoyas becoming a top-10 fi xture also grow. Georgetown’s defense peaked
in its fi nal two games of 2012, allowing just seven goals each to Rutgers and powerful Syracuse, the NCAA fi nalist. That momentum could loom large in the Hoyas’ pursuit of a Big East championship.
A little defense could go a long way in 2013. — N.C.
A Publication of US Lacrosse RIVAL COACHES SAY
“They will be more aggressive this year as they attempt a pressure ‘D’ and play a demanding schedule… Everyone loves Ricky Fried and his teams have been consistently good. But no one knows what it will take for the Hoyas to get over the hump and go deep in the NCAA tournament.”
TOP RETURNER M Sophia Thomas (Sr.) The 2011 Big East
Midfi elder of the Year returns after another banner season in which she led the Hoyas in goals and converted nearly 49 percent of her shots. Thomas boasts the all-around game that fi ts in well with Georgetown’s riding defense.
X-FACTOR G Barb Black (Jr.)
New assistant coach Meg
Dentler, a former CAA Player of the Year at George Mason, will give more attention to goaltending. The Hoyas need dramatic improvement in that area, and Dentler has the confi dence of head coach Ricky Fried to get the job done with Black and Abby Bisbee.
PROJECTED STARTERS
A Dina Jackson (Sr.) * G: 27
A: 6
A Caroline Tarzian (So.) * G: 34
A: 9
A Rosie Corcoran (Sr.) G: 1
A: 4
A Corrinne Etchison (Fr.) G: 39
A: 8
M Kelsi Bozel (Sr.) * G: 26
DC: 38
M Erin Lovett (Sr.) * G: 14
DC: 27
D Ashley Hunter (Sr.) * GB: 26
CT: 24
D M.J. Coyle (Jr.) GB: 1
CT: 1
D Adrianne Devine (So.) GB:4
CT 6
D Casey McGowan (So.) GP: 4
GB: 1
G Barb Black (Jr.) * GAA: 10.75 SV%:36.2
* returning starters TELLING NUMBER
Senior Ashley Hunter, a fourth-year starter, could bust out for a big year as the
Hoyas’ most dangerous 1-on-1 defender.
12.59
2012 — too high for a team with aspirations of going deep into the playoffs.
February 2013 >> LACROSSE MAGAZINE 73
Georgetown’s goals against average in
A: 25 (at McDonogh School)
M Sophia Thomas (Sr.) * G: 38
Barb Black
©JOHN STROHSACKER (ALL)
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