MEN'S SOCCER | Hoyas Win Thrilling Season Opener

The Georgetown men’s soccer team began its much-hyped 2012 campaign on Friday night against the No. 11 University of Virginia, and the Blue and Gray validated its lofty preseason expectations with a 2-1 overtime win.

A goal just ten seconds in from junior forward Steve Neumann got the Hoyas off to a roaring start to both the game and the season as a whole at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown. Neumann, who was recently named to the Hermann Award Watch List, rushed upfield after the opening kick, stripped a UVA defender outside the 18 and fired one into the right corner to give his team the all-important early lead.

GU would hit the post later on in the half, but for the most part, the lions’ share of chances in the first belonged to the Cavaliers. Strong defending from the Hoyas, however, managed to see them through to a 1-0 advantage at intermission.

Sophomore Tom Skelly nearly doubled the squad’s lead coming out of the locker, but his header off of a corner met woodwork and was turned away. Given new life, Virginia began to press more in the attack, eventually equalizing in the 70th minute after a scramble in front of the net following a free kick.

The game would end up going to overtime, where a sudden-death own goal by a UVA defender delivered the win for the Blue and Gray.

Next up for Georgetown is the team’s first home match of the season, on Monday against Florida Gulf Coast. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at North Kehoe Field.