In assessing how Georgetown’s streak of 11 consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament came to an abrupt end last season, it’s easy to point to the Hoyas’ fortunes hinging on two overtime losses: one at eventual national champion Syracuse, 9-8, and a regular-season finale upset by Penn State, 12-11.
But head coach Dave Urick prefers not to nitpick.
“You can magnify a mistake here or there, and point to this or say if this or if that,” said Urick. “Sometimes that’s a little bit counterproductive. I think, for us, it’s more a case of with the schedule that we choose to play, you play your way in, and you can also play your way out. That’s the mindset that our guys have to have.”
No. 9 Georgetown (0-0)
at No. 3 Maryland (2-0)When » Saturday, 1Where » Ludwig Field, College ParkTV » ESPNUSeries » Maryland leads, 7-1» Georgetown junior goalie Jack Davis will make his first collegiate start against the Terrapins.
Heading into this weekend’s season opener, the stark reality is that the Hoyas need more than respect in the coaches’ poll, which had them ranked fourth heading into the Nittany Lions game last spring.
“We took a lot for granted last year,” said senior midfield Jake Samperton. “Coming into games, we didn’t put forth the type of effort and commitment that we needed to, and we couldn’t have learned a harder lesson.”
Only victories can compensate for the relative weakness of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference, which Georgetown will trade for the Big East next season, when it inaugurates its own lacrosse league.
To return to the postseason this spring, the Hoyas will rely on a markedly different team at both ends of the field.
With attacks Brendan Cannon and Andrew Baird (combined 49 goals, 30 assists) gone, a host of players are itching at the chance to put the ball in the net.
“[With] some of the guys, like Ricky [Mirabito] (15 goals) or Craig Dowd (14 goals, 23 assists), the thing that I’m most concerned about is that they feel like they need to pick up all this slack and put the attack on their back, and lead us to the promised land,” said Urick. “That’s not necessarily the approach we need or that’s going to be the best for us.”
Samperton, a former attack who had five goals and five assists last year in his first season at midfield, counts himself among those hoping to provide scoring balance.
“You’re not going to see the ball go through one guy like it did with Brendan last year,” he said. “You’re going to see six guys on the field at a time that are going to be hard to defend It’s time for us to grow up a little bit and not fall back on guys that have been there in the past. I think we’re excited for the challenge.”
