Aug. 31, 2010

WASHINGTON - The No. 22-ranked Georgetown University women's soccer team hits the road this week, opening BIG EAST Conference play on Wednesday, Sept. 1, visiting Villanova. Kickoff at the Villanova Soccer Complex is slated for 4 p.m.

The Hoyas have opened the season with a 3-0 record and are ranked No. 22 in the country in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Top 25 poll. GU is ranked No. 2 in the NSCAA Northeast Regional poll.

Georgetown won its third-straight game on Sunday in impressive fashion, beating St. Francis (Pa.) 5-0 at North Kehoe Field. It was the third-straight shutout for senior goalie Jackie DesJardin (Sunnyvale, Calif./Archbishop Mitty) and the Hoya defense, which has not allowed a goal in 270 minutes of play this season.

The Hoyas have also been aided by an offense that ranks first in the BIG EAST Conference, averaging 5.67 goals per game. Georgetown scored nine goals in a season-opening win at American, posted a 3-0 win over George Washington and added five in the win against St. Francis (Pa.). The 17 goals in three games were the most in a three-game span since the team scored 18 in three games during the 1994 season.

Junior Ingrid Wells (Upper Montclair, N.J./Montclair) leads the team in scoring with three goals and five assists for 11 points. Wells, who was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week last week, was the only unanimous selection to the Preseason All-BIG EAST team. She was selected to the Hermann Trophy Watch List and was tabbed a Preseason All-American selection by Soccer America.

Junior midfielder Kelly D'Ambrisi (Trumbull, Conn./Lauralton Hall Academy), who was named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, is second on the team in scoring with three goals and two assists for eight points. D'Ambrisi earned weekly honors after totaling eight points in the two games and factoring in five of the team's eight goals. She scored two goals and registered an assist in the 3-0 win over George Washington on Friday and then added a goal and an assist in the win over St. Francis (Pa.).

The meeting with Villanova on Wednesday will be the 16th all-time between the programs. The Hoyas posted a 4-0 win last season, with Desjardin blanking the Wildcats at North Kehoe Field, a game in which she set the Georgetown all-time career shutout record. Wells and sophomore Catherine Cabot (San Diego, Calif./Torrey Pines) each scored a goal and recent graduate Sara Jordan added a goal and two assists.

Georgetown has 31-29-5 record in BIG EAST play under Head Coach Dave Nolan, The Hoyas have won their last two BIG EAST Conference openers under Nolan, both against Villanova, including a 3-0 win on the road during the 2008 season.