Mena, Cardona lead Tigers past Toppers

On a steamy night at Toyota Stadium, Georgetown took on Blue Mountain Christian University, looking for its 2nd straight win to start the 2023 campaign. In what proved to be a physically exhausting game in more ways than one, the Tigers were able to scratch out a 2-1 win to pick up another 3 points for the table.

Georgetown didn't take long to excite the crowd as Alejandro Mena headed a ball home off the foot of Frederik Pederson just 39 seconds into the match to put the Tigers on top. Things would turn physical on both ends as neither team could locate quality chances for the rest of the first half. The teams were afforded hydration breaks in each half, but any stoppage in the rest of the first half came thanks to 14 combined fouls and 2 yellow cards. The Tigers took a 1-0 lead to the break.

The teams continued to battle the heat and each other in the 2nd half as 2 more yellows and 18 fouls were whistled in the final 45 minutes. The score remained the same until the 69th minute when the Toppers' Ruben Kuypers was ruled to be taken down in the penalty area and thus awarded a PK. Kuypers slipped the penalty past Tigers keeper, Shjon Ripy, to level the match at 1. 5 minutes later, Esteban Betancurt Cardona found space down the center and launched a missile from 30 yards away that screamed by the Toppers keeper, putting Georgetown ahead for good at 2-1. From there, the Tigers defense clamped up and only allowed 1 shot on goal over the final 16 minutes.

Georgetown next hits the road on August 30th as they travel to Barbourville to take on Union College. Kickoff is set for 7:00pm ET.