WASHINGTON — A regulation lacrosse goal measures six feet wide by six feet tall. But with 6-foot-3 senior goalkeeper Emmet Carroll in net for Penn, it likely seemed a lot smaller for Georgetown’s attackers.
Number 19 Carroll — who was named to the USA Lacrosse Division I preseason All-America list with senior defender Brendan Lavelle — tallied 13 saves on a dreary afternoon in the nation’s capital. This effort was not enough, though, as No. 13 Penn fell 8-6 to begin its season with a loss to No. 14 Georgetown (2-1) for the second year in a row.
Carroll wasn’t alone on Penn’s back line. The Quakers’ two other stars — Lavelle and sophomore short stick defensive midfielder Anthony McMullan — also made key plays.
But when all else fails, Penn (0-1) relies on number 19 in the net. This trust was evident on several of the possessions throughout the game, during which the Hoyas passed the ball around the perimeter for large chunks of time, ultimately drawing shot clock penalties.
“They don’t have many weak spots, I’ll tell you that much,” Georgetown coach Kevin Warne said of Penn’s defense. “You got to work, because [Carroll] does an unbelievable job in the goal. He’s excellent. So you have to make him move, make him work. … You can’t be so shot-happy to shoot in the first 20 seconds of a possession.”
However, lacrosse is a sport where even the best are rarely perfect. So after several defensive stops and physics-defying saves, the Hoyas were able to score two goals in the first quarter. Penn’s offense, headed by senior attackers Cam Rubin and Ben Smith, responded, though. With goals from sophomore attacking midfielder Davis Provost and sophomore midfielder Leo Hoffman, the Quakers tied the game early in the second quarter. Despite this effort, the Quakers only attempted 25 shots all game, with Smith — who finished second on the team in goals last year — attempting just one.
“I think the 25 shots is credit to their defense,” Penn coach Mike Murphy said. “Their ball pressure takes away some of those opportunities. We also weren’t playing offense in the way we talked about all week.”
Penn had a few other chances on goal in the first half, but Georgetown’s defense — headed by goalkeeper Anderson Moore — stymied most of them. Moore also proved adept at handling the ball, helping to break Penn’s press on multiple possessions.
The middle two quarters proved to be a back-and-forth affair. The Hoyas took a 4-3 lead into halftime, with the two teams close in most statistical categories. In the third quarter, Georgetown put three goals into the net, but each time, Penn responded quickly. Junior midfielder Griffin Scane scored twice, and freshman attacking midfielder Nate Lucchesi recorded his first goal for Penn as the score was 6-5 Georgetown with 20 minutes to play.
The start of the fourth quarter did not go Penn’s way, however. Within 13 seconds, the Hoyas scored a goal in transition following the faceoff. Furthermore, junior faceoff specialist Ethan Costanzo was injured during the initial struggle for the ball. Postgame, Murphy did not give an update on Costanzo’s status.
As the fourth quarter ticked by, Penn’s defense forced crucial stops to hold the deficit at two. But when the Quakers had the ball, they struggled, turning the ball over on multiple possessions late in the game. Additionally, one offside penalty with under five minutes left gifted the Hoyas additional possessions and chances to bleed time off the clock.
“On the first one … we just didn’t communicate. And the second one was just silly, two veteran players on opposite sides of the clear, just didn’t wait to go over,” Murphy said. “The first one was understandable [and] frustrating, the second just inexcusable.”
Following a final chance, Georgetown held onto the ball as time expired, sealing a season-opening loss for Penn.
The Quakers will be seeking their first win of the season on Tuesday against UAlbany to open play at Franklin Field. With exactly one month until Penn begins playing other teams in the Ivy League — a contest in which the Quakers were picked to finish fourth according to a preseason poll — every game between now and then provides a fresh opportunity for success.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
Donate
