It’s not so much that the question itself was inappropriate, but the way the subject was presented was awkward.
“Six of Georgetown’s nine goals were scored by freshmen,” said a reporter to Princeton head coach Bill Tierney after the Hoyas’ 9-8 overtime win over the Tigers on Sunday. “Did those guys look like freshmen to you?”
Bristling with discomfort, Tierney acknowledged the play of the Hoyas’ young stars, specifically mentioning Andrew Brancaccio (“He’s one of the best out there,”) and Craig Dowd (“[He] did a great job and finished some things that maybe other guys wouldn’t.”)
He also made it clear it had nothing to do with them being rookies.
“You just don’t think like that. You don’t worry about those things, you just try to stop great players,” said Tierney. “You just certainly don’t think about what grade they’re in, that’s for sure.”
This year’s Hoyas freshmen have more than lived up to their billing. As Inside Lacrosse Magazine’s No. 1 recruiting class in 2006, that may come as little surprise. But as the second Georgetownclass in three years bestowed with that honor, their presence has helped continue the incremental growth in confidence of the program as a whole, which could be a key factor as the Hoyas attempt to reach the NCAA semifinals for the first time since 1999.
Ten of Georgetown’s 32-man active postseason roster are freshmen, including scorers like Brancaccio (19 goals, one assist) and Dowd (17 goals, eight assists) but also defensive workhorses like Barney Ehrmann and Chris Nixon.
The designation “freshman” means much less 14 games into the year, but even in the season-opener — the program’s first victory over Maryland — the older guys recognized things seemed different.
“It does come back to that Maryland game,” said senior defender Jerry Lambe. “Everyone felt like that was a huge win, everybody felt like that was going to be a huge change in our season.”
Other things that once seemed impossible, like an overtime win against Princeton, are now eminently achievable. The Hoyas know next weekend offers yet another chance — a first-ever meeting with Johns Hopkins — to make history.
“We’re making a name for ourselves in terms of recruiting, getting the best kids in the country to come,” said sophomore attack Jake Samperton. “Now it’s our job to take the program to the Final Four and win a national championship.”
Fantastic Freshmen
» Andrew Brancaccio (Georgetown Prep), M: 19 goals, one assist
» Craig Dowd, attack: 17 goals, eight assists
» Scott Kocis, midfield: seven goals, one assist
» Barney Ehrmann, defense: 41 groundballs
» Chris Nixon, defense: 45 groundballs
» Spencer Gantsoudes, midfield: 13 groundballs
