DC Metro NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer season preview: Georgetown Hoyas

By Tom Myrick

One of the great things about being a soccer fan: there is very little down time. No sooner has the excitement of the World Cup worn off, than it’s time for the MLS playoff push, the beginning of European league play and, a bit closer to home, the kick-off of the NCAA college season. Here we break down the top Division I teams in the Metro DC area, who to watch for and what games not to miss, as the college season gets underway.

[ Editor\'s Note: We are also including the University of Virginia in our DC Metro preview - who can leave out the defending national champions when they\'re so close to DC? ]

[ + University of Maryland Terrapins ]
[ + University of Virginia Cavaliers ]
[ + George Washington Colonials ]
[ + American University Eagles ]
[ + George Mason Patriots ]

Georgetown Hoyas
Head Coach – Brian Wiese (33-35-6, fifth season)
Starters Returning/Lost – 8/3
Letterwinners Returning/Lost – 19/4
2009 Record – 9-8-2
2009 Conference Finish – 6-5-0 (Fourth, Blue Division)
2009 Postseason – Big East Tournament First Round (L, 2-2 (1-3) to DePaul
Season Opener – 9/3 vs. Northeastern
Don’t Miss: When the Hoyas welcome Big East Blue Division winners UConn on Oct. 27

The Hoyas continue to make progress in an improving Big East conference. A sub-.500 team just three seasons ago, head coach Brian Wiese will be looking to emulate his breakout season in 2008, when he helped the team break into the NSCAA Top 20 to an 11-5-3 mark.

Georgetown had gotten off to an impressive start last season, winning five of its first seven conference matches and landing a big 2-0 victory over then No.19-UCLA.

But the Hoyas produced just one win in their final seven outings (a 2-1 road win over a good West Virginia side), and were bounced from the Big East tournament on penalty kicks in the first round.

In order to compete with the conference’s top dogs, Georgetown will need to rediscover its home form. After going an impressive 7-1-2 at home in 2008, the Hoyas could only manage a 4-5-1 mark at North Kehoe Field last season.

The good news for the Hoyas is that they will return their top four scorers from a year ago, including Jose Colchao, who led the team in both goals (four), assists (five) and points (13). Attacking midfielder Seth C’deBaca finished second on the team in scoring for the second straight year, chipping in three goals and five assists.

Senior Chandler Diggs and sophomore Andy Riemer both found the net four times for the Blue & Gray last season as the team searched for a more balanced attack following the departure of striker Peter Grasso.

All told, Georgetown returns all but two players that scored at least a point for them last season, giving them reason to hope for an improved win total in 2010.