After a strong non-conference schedule, the Pirates look to keep up the stellar play this weekend on the road at Georgetown and then at home against Villanova.
The Pirates beat both Georgetown and Villanova last year to open up Big East play. They edged Georgetown 3-2 in overtime and they beat Villanova 1-0.
The Pirates have an all-time record of 8-8-2 against Georgetown, with their last loss coming in the 2010-11 season.
Historically the Pirates have fared well against Villanova, holding an all-time record of 10-6-1 against the Wildcats, with their last loss coming in the 2009-10 season.
The Pirates are returning 14 players from last year's roster, including five seniors who helped the Pirates to a 4-6-1 conference record and a win in the Big East Championship.
Head coach Kazbek Tambi said the team must play hard every game in Big East play.
"In Big East play I would like us to compete game in and game out," Tambi said. "The Big East is one of the toughest conferences in the country. For us to succeed we need to bring our A game every day and we need it to be a total team effort."
Even though the Pirates are led by a strong group of seniors who have logged many minutes (hours?) for the Pirates in the past three seasons, their bright spot recently has been the play of two junior midfielders who made their way to the All-Tournament Team this past weekend at the Villanova Tournament, Ashley Clarke and Amie Ruhe.
Over the last week the Pirates have struggled to score with only two goals in their last three games, all ending in defeats. All three losses were away from home, one being at Army and the two others being at neutral sites in Philadelphia in the Villanova Tournament.
With the season in full swing the Pirates' next game is at 3 p.m. on Friday at Georgetown They return home for a three-game home stand beginning with their Big East home opener at 1 p.m. on Sunday against Villanova at 1 p.m.
