The Hoya: The Guide: September 6, 2013

the guide FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2013

THIS WEEK LIFESTYLE

Student Leader Shines

From NSO captain to ABCS vice chair, Matt Chung (COL ’14) has made the most of the Georgetown experience. B2

Success of the Man Repeller

Blogger Leandra Medine’s newest novel focuses on her struggle to find love and how she discovers herself. B3

FOOD&DRINK

Sushi Done Right

Chopsticks serves up fresh and delicious Japanese food, from sushi to dumplings to chicken teriyaki. B4

Students Navigate Long-Distance Relationships

In It For The Long Haul

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

Love-Infused Hits

Singer-songwriter Ben Rector’s newest album is packed with catchy love songs. B5

Fall Music Preview

This season promises plenty of future party hits, with new albums from artists including Miley Cyrus and the Arctic Monkeys. B5

NEW RELEASES ‘DUAL JUNGE HANA (RUNAWAY’ KARA 

UNIVERSAL MEDIA

Six years after bursting onto the K-pop scene, girl group Kara continues to thrill with their new single, “Runaway.” Currently fifth on Billboard’s K-Pop Hot 100, the track blends soft rock with R&B-inspired vocals.

“Runaway” sounds like an exuberant Latin version of a Destiny’s Child song. Though Kara begs you to “Let go of my hand,” you’re not going to want to let this catchy number leave your head. Check out the album Full Bloom, which dropped Monday.

‘BYEGONE’ VOLCANO CHOIR 

VICTORIA EDEL Hoya Staff Writer

Countless texts, phone calls and Skype sessions. A four-hour ride on Megabus — longer when there’s traffic. For many couples in long-distance relationships, these are trademarks for staying connected during college, trying to bridge the hours and miles apart.

While some decry the prevalence of the “hook-up culture” on college campuses, surveys indicate there to be around 4 million college students in committed long-distance relationships.

These students may face pressure from family or friends to begin their college careers unattached — to grow and explore without their high school significant other. Problems can arise: trouble communicating, jealousy and lack of physical connection, to name a few.

But, despite all these challenges, the bonds that sustain long-distance relationships can prove remarkably resilient — for some, at least.

There’s the stereotypical collegiate long-distance relationship: You start with your significant other from high

school and by Thanksgiving it’s over (the so-called “turkey drop”). In essence, that’s the story of Andrew DeBraggio (COL ’16). The summer before freshman year, DeBraggio thought about breaking up with his girlfriend, who he’d been dating for over two-and-a-half years, but elected not to. But after three weeks at Georgetown — with his girlfriend back home in upstate New York — he realized that their arrangement was untenable. “[It’s] not your easy relationship where you get in a fight, you hug, you make up and you’re fine. You can’t do that,” DeBraggio said. “Not having the physical presence, not being able to talk to them, it’s a very difficult thing.”

DeBraggio broke up with his girlfriend at that three-week mark, but a week later, they got back together, despite his continued doubts. She even came and visited in October, but just before Thanksgiving, he decided to end it again.

DeBraggio, who’s from the small town of Clinton, N.Y., had realized upon moving that he didn’t necessarily want to return to small-town life with his girlfriend after graduation. Rather than break it off quickly like he had attempted in Septem-

ber, DeBraggio tried to slowly cut their communication until she got the hint.

Eventually she changed her Facebook status to “single,” though residual feelings lingered for a few months.

Liz LaFranchise (COL ’15) also broke up with her boyfriend at Thanksgiving, though her situation was quite different from DeBraggio’s. She began dating her best friend only after they spent a few weeks apart at college; he had wanted to date for a few years, but it took separation for her to realize that she wanted to be with him, too.

But their relationship ended up not being what she had imagined, and communication was harder than expected. “[I would] Skype him at 2 a.m. under the covers when [my roommate] was asleep,” she said. “It was weird not knowing when we were free and not responding to texts.”

The couple also faced a lot of pressure to stay together from their friends and family.

“When [my friends from home] found out, they said, ‘You should just be engaged

LIFESTYLE

The Phantoms Make One for the Records Campus A Capella Group Releases Their Seventh Album LINDSAY LEASOR Hoya Staff Writer

Six years after their last recording, the Phantoms returned to the music scene this summer with a new album, And the Livin’

Is Easy.

On And the Livin’ Is Easy, released on iTunes on May 30, listeners will find tracks that showcase the Phantoms’ vocal strengths during their twists on popular hits ranging from Kings

of Leon to Lady Gaga.

“We focused less on balancing genres and tempos of songs and instead picked songs that the group enjoyed performing. We went about picking songs in the same way we make most of our

JAGJAGUWAR

Second time’s the charm! Despite a relatively poorly received first album in 2009, Volcano Choir enchants with “Byegone,” the first single off their sophomore Repave.

The side project of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, Volcano Choir evokes a poetic tone with this haunting new single. With a minimal and pastoral tone, “Byegone” evokes a natural ambiance; its lyrics practically transport listeners to an echoing cave.

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See LONG-DISTANCE, B2

ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

The Phantoms, a coed a cappella group, performs one of their various musical numbers at Georgetown Day 2013. They recently released an album on iTunes.

decisions in the group. We operate on consensus, so we discuss and deliberate until we come up with something that everyone is proud of,” said John Roach (COL ’13), who served as the group’s music director last year.

The album is representative of the Phantoms’ favorite songs to perform and features mostly studio-recorded tracks, with one special live performance. “In terms of specifics, the group definitely wanted to include ‘Summertime.’ It has become a Phantoms staple over the past few years.

The version included on the album is particularly cool because it is a recording of the first time we ever performed it live back in 2009,” Roach said.

The Phantoms released their last album, Phive, in fall 2007 — well before most current students arrived at Georgetown. “For everyone currently at Georgetown, [And the Livin’ Is Easy] is probably the only Phantoms album they have seen or knew existed,” Roach said. “The production quality of the tracks is superior to the older albums.”

See PHANTOM, B3

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THE HOYA

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2013

FEATURE

Juggling Romantic Connection And Collegiate Independence LONG-DISTANCE, from B1 on Facebook because you’ll never break up.’ Once we were together, it was like we were together for life, and that was intimidating,” LaFranchise explained. “I didn’t want to be with one person for the rest of my life at the age of 18.”

By the end of October, LaFranchise decided to call it off until they would be back together at Thanksgiving and could talk it out. Though they decided to separate, they remained best friends and as graduation approaches, they’re looking for ways to end up in the same place again. But rekindling her romance might not be in the cards for LaFranchise, as her ex-boyfriend is currently in a relationship.

Kendyl Clausen (SFS ’16) originally decided to break up with her boyfriend of about one year before they started their freshman years at Georgetown and Princeton.

“We didn’t want to date all through college, get married and then, at 40, realize we never dated anybody else and then start cheating on each other,” Clausen said.

Clausen and her boyfriend both used that break to experience a more typical college life — partying, flirting and the like — but soon realized that they wanted to be together. “It turns out you can’t force a break up,” she said.

Sustaining their relationship hasn’t been easy, either. Clausen is on Georgetown’s equestrian team and her boyfriend rows for Princeton, so there are few weekends when both are free, and the price of train tickets stands in the way. Last year, they saw each other just once while school was in session.

To feel close, Clausen says she and her boyfriend frequently text and talk during the school year. But technology — which helps so people in many long-distance relationships feel connected in ways that would have been impossible 15 years ago — often proves to be a mixed blessing.

“We’re actually trying to cut down on [texts and calls]. They take you

away from what you’re actually doing,” Clausen explained.

Clausen noted that virtual romantic signals are even more difficult to interpret than traditional ones.

“You want to be updated and know what’s going on, but over text, you can’t talk about how you’re feeling,”

lar situations; she’s only two hours away at James Madison University and they see each other about twice a month. Planning those visits can be logistically difficult, though; Doak says that because the pair stringently follows their Catholic faith, DeFord never sleeps over.

“By the time you get to sophomore or junior year, people are amazed that you’ve been in a long distance relationship the whole time.”

JOSEPH CARDONE (COL ’14)

Clausen said. “You lose the emotional connection at times and I won’t know if he’s upset or mad.”

LaFranchise agreed. “If there was a problem or an issue you wanted to talk about, you kind of just put it off, because why ruin the little time you had to talk with that kind of an issue?” she explained.

Emile Doak (COL ’14) and his girlfriend Kelsey DeFord, a senior at James Madison University, have found a unique way of negotiating the communication issue: They have no rules for how often they’ll speak to each other. While he texts her “good morning” every day, she may not respond for hours, and they have no expectation that they’ll talk on the phone every day or even every week.

“The reality is I’m here and she’s there and that’s not going to change for the four years of college, so you have to build your own life apart from her which is really hard,” Doak said.

Doak believes their casual communication policy cuts down on fighting.

“A lot of my friends who are in long distance relationships, a lot of their fights are over, ‘You didn’t call me when you were supposed to’ or, ‘You didn’t make time for me,’” he said. “I sympathize with them when they don’t make time or they don’t call because they have their own things going on here.”

But in some ways, Doak and DeFord have it easier than most in simi-

Joseph Cardone (COL ’14) has found himself in a similar longdistance relationship. He was just beginning his senior year of high school when his then-girlfriend left for college two-and-a-half hours from their hometown near Philadelphia.

The two had only started casually dating that summer.

“We weren’t sure it would last when she went off to school,” he said. “[But when] we weren’t spending time together and we still felt the same way and we weren’t interested in meeting new people, then we decided we’d stay together for good.”

As time went on, their relationship became more of an outlier among his college friends.

“Freshman year, it wasn’t uncommon,” he explained. “But by the time you get to sophomore or junior year, people are amazed that you’ve been in a long distance relationship the whole time.”

This July, Cardone took the relationship one step further. He and his girlfriend spent the weekend at his girlfriend’s family’s beach house in Delaware with a few of their friends.

The area is home to an old military base, with tall towers that tourists can climb to get breathtaking views of the beaches. One day, Cardone snuck away from the beach in order to set up a surprise. He then brought his girlfriend up to one of the towers, where she saw that he had written

“Caroline, Marry Me?” in hundreds spending most of Kaldi’s freshman year apart. It didn’t end well. of pine needles on the sand.

“We were together for too long durShe said yes. The pair had discussed marriage before. Cardone had said he ing the day, and there was no balance,” wouldn’t propose until after gradua- she said. “That just made us both fight tion, but he thought that if he did wait, all the time. As sad as it is, there was a he would never be able to surprise her. big difference to how our relationship Though he doesn’t expect that they used to be before and how it ended will marry for a few years, he believes up.” They broke up in July. their engagement gives them differFor Jade Burt (COL ’16), closing the ent opportunities that they wouldn’t distance between her and her boyhave if they were just dating. friend has brought them romanti“This way we can start planning cally closer. Last year, her boyfriend our lives around each other, like of three years attended Rochester where do I want to get a job, what Institute of Technology, but this year, do I want to do after school, which he transferred to George Mason in we really couldn’t plan as well if we nearby Fairfax, Va. Burt says that their weren’t engaged,” Cardone said. desire to be closer was an influence in Cardone believes that if they her boyfriend’s decision, though she hadn’t started out as long distance, encouraged him to do it for himself they wouldn’t be engaged at this point. and not for her. Like others, she saw “The long-distance relationship that her attachment to her best friend showed me that she was serious about and significant other, who was far this and that we could last,” he said. away ,was hurting her ability to con“We made it work, whatever problems nect with her peers. we had, whatever fights we had. It “It made it harder for me to make made me commit early on for good.” attachments to other freshmen beNow that they are engaged, Car- cause they all had that need for each done sees it as extra motivation to other, so they all grouped together,” plan his future, as his girlfriend has she said. “But I was still leaning on already started her career. him and he wasn’t there. It made me “She’s set and ready to move on,” he feel detached from the freshmen.” said. “It’s definitely motivated me to Burt expects a lot of the problems find out exactly what I want to do.” they experienced due to distance to Cardone, a dissipate physics and now that economics they’re close. major, is lookThey’ve aling to teach ready seen high school each other physics or frequently, work for the though Burt military once expects they he graduates won’t be conLIZ LAFRANCHISE (COL ’15) so he can start stantly tosaving for his gether. Still, wedding and show his girlfriend’s par- some fears remain. ents that he can support her.

“I have a little bit of fear about wastThis summer, Christina Kaldi (NHS ing time,” she said. “One motivator to ’16) also navigated the other side of stay together — it’s not the best motithe long-distance problem: being re- vator — is that I’ve already invested so united. She and her boyfriend had much time into one relationship and only known each other a month be- I can’t imagine investing all that time fore Kaldi left her home in Greece for into a new relationship or a string of college last fall, but she decided to new relationships.” take a chance. This summer, the two For now, she’s happy with the one had a month and a half together after she has.

“I didn’t want to be with one person for the rest of my life at the age of 18.”

ALMOST ADULT

A Mary by Any Other Name

I

World shattered.

Game ’ve never really liked my first name. I think it’s boring and changed. It has not “always short, but as every nun I’ve been!” I hadn’t been this ever complained to has said, shocked since discovering my “It’s the name of the Blessed ear lobes were attached to my Mother. You should only be so head during a lab activity my senior year in high school. My lucky!”

While I respect the biblical name is Mary Elizabeth. It’s a origins of Mary, I have always mouthful, yes, but a beautiful, preferred the idea of having an- less plain mouthful!

My mom told me I dropped other moniker, one that doesn’t mean “sea of bitterness” or “re- the Elizabeth when I was about belliousness.”

Furthermore, six. Looking back, I have no idea having the same name as a what I was thinking. Actually, woman who got pregnant in what were my parents thinkher early teens without having ing, letting a 6-year-old drop sex is especially scary to a chaste half of her interesting, two-part seventh grader with an irregu- name? My birth certificate thus lar menstruation cycle. My para- presented me with two options: noid, younger self even went so Mary or Mary Elizabeth. Mary is the name that brings to mind a far as to buy a pregnancy test. modest, shy person, For the past 21 but why couldn’t years, I thought I Mary Elizabeth be was destined to be some eloquent, the shepherdess of charismatic characa little lamb, the ter? I could recreate mother of baby Jesus or the subject of Mary Burgoyne myself, rebrand, develop a new life to a Tina Turner song.

(I actually have no problem accompany my new name.

So I changed my Facebook with the latter.) But my life’s trajectory — or really just my name. That was it. While this name — was forever changed one alteration doesn’t seem a few months ago, when I had very dramatic, I have plans for to get my birth certificate for a Mary Elizabeth once I graduate. summer job. I ordered a copy to How ironic that I learn my true bring into work because my par- name right before my senior ents worried that I would lose year. Right before I try to figure my passport if they gave it to me out the rest of my unplotted, unplanned future. I’ve decided - a totally valid concern.

While looking over my birth that after I leave Georgetown, I certificate, I saw my name listed want to go by Mary Elizabeth. as “Mary Elizabeth Carolan Bur- Of course, I’m doing it because goyne.” I didn’t know Carolan, I think the name is cooler, but my mother’s maiden name (pro- the change reminds me I have nounced Karlin), was legally a choices. Even without Elizabeth, I can still be whomever I part of my name.

If Carolan were in the mix, want. I can be colorful. I can be that would mean I have two bombastic. College will be over middle names. It wouldn’t be soon, but my story won’t, and unusual, but my parents are I’m looking forward to all the simple people, so I doubted options in front of me. that possibility to be the case.

I showed my mother the paper Mary Burgoyne is a senior in the and asked, “What’s my first College. ALMOST ADULT appears every other Friday in the guide. name?”

“It’s Mary Elizabeth, like it’s always been. You know that.”

LIFESTYLE

Becoming a Renaissance Man KIM BUSSING Hoya Staff Writer

The quintessential Georgetown student is often one associated with more extracurriculars than you can count on both hands, double majors with double minors and an ability to succeed without any apparent need for sleep. Matt Chung (COL ’14) embodies just that. With a number of leadership positions under his belt and a double major and a minor, Chung is proof that it’s possible, and that if you really love what you’re involved in, nothing feels like work.

What are you involved in around campus?

I’m a senior in the college, double government and English major, minor in theology. I’m the president this year of the Georgetown Running Club. I’m also the vice chair for ABCS, the Advisory Board for Club Sports and the marketing chair for the Class of 2014 Fund, which is very exciting. I’m also very involved in orientation. I was an OA during my

sophomore year. I was a coordinator last year, and then I was a captain this year.

What made you decide to get so involved with orientation?

I didn’t have the best orientation experience. I thought that my advisor was very supportive during orientation but right after went back to life as a senior. That’s fine, but I thought that there deserved to be more support there and there deserved to be more effort put in. I wanted to be an OA to reverse that trend and be more of a support system for new students as well. I got to meet some incredible people and it was such an amazing experience that I wanted to give back in an even larger role as coordinator.

How was your experience with a larger role with orientation?

Coordinators design orientation in all of the forms. From every program that you would see, all of the night programming, “Pluralism in Action,” all of the giveaways that the new students get, that all comes from five undergraduate students. It’s very unique for Georgetown that they would entrust such a huge program to five undergrads, which is awesome. I learned a lot about my own leadership potential and skills.

What is your role with the Class of 2014 Fund and ABCS? [It] is basically just students who want to give back to Georgetown in some way and create a legacy for our class.

As marketing chair, my job is to build a brand for the Class of 2014, to brand our events and to get the word out that we’re doing these things. I’ve been involved in running club since my freshman year, and I rose up through the ranks to president. Various club sports are engaged in a lot of community service and have stories that need to be told. That’s another thing that the advisory board does.

We try and promote club sports to the administration and to the wider Georgetown community.

MICHELLE XU/THE HOYA

Senior Matt Chung (COL ’14) is a dynamic student leader.

How do you plan to utilize your majors in your future careers?

I love my majors. I can take various classes and pull in different ideas and different authors from various

academic areas because my majors intersect. I’ve always been interested in government and how our government works. I was also always interested in media and how government uses media to get a message out or how media is used to twist the message of government or vice versa. That’s where the English piece comes in, because the government utilizes language and social media to rally support around an idea.

What prompted you to minor in theology, as it seems different than your career goals?

Theology is something I have always been interested in. I’m one of the 9:30 Mass coordinators. For me, my personal theological path is a personal journey. I think that religion is something that we all have to deal with, whether you decide you don’t want anything to do with religion or you want to take different pieces of the mainstream religions.

What do you think is the most important thing you have taken away from Georgetown?

What I have taken away from Georgetown is that students here are really powerful. They’re really powerful thinkers. They’re really powerful individuals. They’re really passionate about what they do. You will walk through campus or Red Square and see everyone trying to get people to join their various organizations or clubs, trying to make people feel invested in a different panel discussion that they’re putting on or a different competition that they’re entering. I think that student engagement at Georgetown is very high, much higher than at other universities. We have the largest entirely student run nonprofit organization on the planet. The CEO is an undergraduate. We have our own credit union, and the president is an undergraduate. At other universities, that’s unheard of. Each one of those is so incredible and so great, and people are so passionate about what they’re into, and those passions make this place so incredible.

the guide

friday, september 6, 2013

lifestyle

THE HOYA

B3

Book

Finding Feminism in Fashion Caitlin DeSantis Hoya Staff Writer

Who is The Man Repeller? Who is the woman behind the blog that five million people come to each day for fashion inspiration, dating advice or a mere chuckle?

In her new book, Man Repeller: Seeking Love. Finding Overalls., successful blogger Leandra Medine comes out from behind the screen to reveal the real girl underneath those M.C. Hammer pants. Through a series of essays, Medine, who created her fashion blog in 2010, shares her story of becoming a blogger, a wife and an adult. Though she deals with more serious issues in her book she, fortunately, maintains the same humorous voice from her blog, making it quite an entertaining read.

Since 2010, The Man Repeller has been a voice for girls who value their overalls and harem pants more than

their bandage dresses and skinny jeans. Medine’s blog recognizes that while trends like drop-crotched pants, turbans, shoulder pads and glorified mom jeans may take a brief place in the female fashion realm, they may send men running in the opposite direction. However, Medine is not afraid to don fashion’s boldest styles, even if they might repulse her testosteronefueled companions.

Medine’s friend conceived the term “man repeller” in a dressing room while the two were trying on a variety of funky garments and whining about their failing love lives. Her friend pinpointed the problem: It wasn’t Medine’s personality that was unattractive to men, but her fashion ensembles.

Women who have a taste for more daring and high-fashion outfits, however, should not lose hope in finding a man, because — spoiler alert — Medine does finally find her soulmate.

ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

The Phantoms can be seen performing at various campus events. Here, they perform at the Welcome Back Jack barbeque this fall.

The Phantoms Hit All The Right Notes to fund performing arts programs.

“It was sometimes frustrating getListeners will find that the album ting everything in order. Although features a mix of genres — with ev- we had finished essentially all of erything from Cee Lo Green to The the recording by my freshman year, Dixie Chicks — that blend together there has been a lot of red tape put to create a dynamic but cohesive fi- in place by both the university and nal product. “In terms of style, And the recording studio that has takThe Livin’ Is Easy has a more chill en a long time to work through,” Roach said. “The delays piled up vibe.

“We included a lot of slower songs to the point that a majority of the on this album, so it’s nice for hang- Phantoms featured on the album ing back and listening. It creates an have graduated.”

“One of the reasons it took so long intimate feel. Of course, there are a few uptempo tunes to keep the to release was because we wanted whole project interesting through- it to be released online, which is something a perout,” Roach said. arts group However, the pro“[W]e wanted it to forming at Georgetown has cess of becoming redone yet,” Phancording artists was be released online, not toms Business Mannot always smooth which is something ager Nick Oki (COL sailing. The group ’14) said. must gain the apa performing arts With this more proval and funding recent album unof Georgetown’s group ... has not der their belt, the Performing Arts Phantoms plan to Advisory Commitdone yet.” produce another on tee before pursuing NICK OKI Phantoms Business Manager a shorter timeline. a partnership with “We’re working a recording studio and coordinating studio time with on recording a new album that we Phantoms members. Of the Phan- hope will be out in a two-year timetoms’ 14 current members, only frame. The seniors in the group who nine can be heard on the album, [didn’t perform solo pieces] on this which the group finished recording album would definitely love to have in spring 2012. All profits from the the new one that we’re beginning to album will return to the university record out by the end of this year,” Oki said.

Along with their recording ventures, the Phantoms are looking ahead to the 25th anniversary of the D.C. A Cappella Festival, which the group holds in conjunction with the GraceNotes each year. Performances will be held Nov. 2 and 9 in Gaston Hall.

After their winter tour in Vail, Colo. last year, the Phantoms are also beginning to explore the possibly of more performances outside of the D.C. area.

“I have a huge goal the week after graduation. I’m hoping to take the Phantoms on an international tour, which would be the first time we’ve done that,” Oki said. “We’re looking at London and Paris, but the plans are still in the works.”

COURTESY THE PHANTOMS PHANTOMS, from B1

GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING

Leandra Medine’s novel discusses the trials of falling in love and the comfort she finds through fashion.

This romantic theme is the thread that brings all of her stories together, from the tale of the Bermuda shorts she wore incessantly in Capri to the one about picking out her wedding gown for her big day. While each story maintains a focus on fashion, the focal point of the book is Medine’s quest for the man she loves and her realization that before she could really fall in love with him, she had to fall fully in love with herself. Cliched though it might be, it happens that fashion was the agent that encouraged her to accept all of her own oddball qualities.

While her book preserves the blog’s sparkling and hysterical voice, it goes much deeper in content. Instead of focusing on the outfits, her book pays attention to the person wearing them.

The narratives depict how garments become an extension of a person and, whether we realize it or not, that we each have an intimate connection with the clothes that we wear. Her harem pants became a symbol of independence, her Hermes clutch a tangible connection to her grandmother and her soiled white Manolo Blahnik pumps the realization of her quirkiness.

Man Repeller also has an element of feminism. It encourages women to dress for themselves and not for men.

Fashion is self-expression; one should dress for herself personally and not for anyone else. While her novel is a light and playful read, Medine tries to impart as much wisdom as a 24-year-old woman can. Her honesty and talent in fully revealing her quirky self without holding anything back — you’ll read about everything from her weight problems to her period drama to losing her virginity — is an inspirational reminder that by embracing who you are, you’ll not only open yourself to people around you but also learn about who you are in the process.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK the fast track — joy ma

gluten freedom

Learning to Adapt to a Wheatless World A

s an adopted child raised in a predominantly Italian household — my mother is fully Italian and my father is half Italian, half Chinese — I grew up surrounded by loudness, heavy accents, hand gestures, cheek kissing and, most importantly, food. The Italians rewrite the food pyramid.

Complex carbohydrates come only in one form: pasta. There is simply no need for vegetables if there is tomato sauce, and cheese covers your daily intake of calcium and vitamin D. My entire childhood was a constant cycle between pasta with marinara sauce, spaghetti and meatballs and eggplant parmigiana (not parmesan).

Despite all of my excitement to leave the nest and spread my wings at college, I could not fathom coping with cafeteria food. No more home-cooked meals might as

well have marked the end of happiness in my stomach. I wouldn’t dare wait in the long line for mediocre pasta in Leo’s, and I would be able to splurge at true Italian eateries only when my parents visited. I longed for Christmas break, partly because it was a reprieve from work and partly because of the delicious foods. I ate each meal like it was going to be my last, enjoying every morsel of home cooking, little knowing that they would be my last bites of pasta.

My first day back at campus, I received the phone call. I’ve never had my heart broken before, but I quickly found out how it feels.

My doctor broke the news to me: I could no longer eat gluten. A simple blood test showed that my gluten level was four times higher than the normal amount, indicating a gluten sensitivity or

intolerance. I could not imagine my life without gluten or how it went undetected for so long. I ate pasta at least three times a week as a part of my Italian diet, so how could I suddenly be allergic to it?

But more importantly, how could

Christina Wing I live without it?

If Leo’s was inedible before, it became exponentially more difficult to find something — anything — I could eat. My new diet consisted of salad, chicken when it looked edible, fruit and the occasional frozen yogurt. There was nothing left to look forward to. I was lost, con-

fused and — most of all — hungry.

While all of my friends indulged in Leo’s toaster-warmed chocolate chip cookies, I was left with a bowl of fruit. The dietician at school tried to help, but the tiny glutenfree refrigerator wouldn’t cut it for the next four years.

Feeling downtrodden and hopeless, my friend who studies at American University suggested that we should explore Washington, D.C. in an effort to lift up my spirits. We met up in Dupont Circle and somehow stumbled upon Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe.

After walking around the bookstore, we decided to stay for lunch.

Expecting another disappointing meal of salad and fruit, I was pleasantly surprised to find a variety of gluten-free foods, including chili, which I ordered for lunch along with flourless chocolate cake.

Just like I’ve never gotten my heart broken, I’ve never fallen in love at first bite until the day that I ate Afterword’s flourless chocolate cake. It was the first time in months that I felt like a normal human being: I could order what I actually wanted to eat and it was just as delicious as I would have hoped. Its perfect combination of dense, chocolaty cake with raspberry sauce drizzled on the plate transports you to a chocolate coma heaven. Biting into that chocolate cake revived the happiness in my stomach and in my life and gave me hope in discovering new gluten-free delicacies in the future.

Christina Wing is a sophomore in the McDonough School of Business. GLUTEN FREEDOM appears every other Friday in the guide.

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the guide

THE HOYA

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2013

RESTAURANT

RECIPE BOX

French Cuisine Falls Flat

BEET SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE

This beet and goat cheese salad is perfect as a snack or as a main meal. Light and easy to make, this salad requires only a few ingredients that can be picked up at your local grocery store or farmers’ market without breaking the bank. Beets add a refreshing twist to the usual salad. Toss in some grilled chicken or shrimp for a more filling lunch or dinner, and feel free to jazz things up with more of your favorite veggies.

INGREDIENTS

4 medium beets – scrubbed, trimmed and cut in half 1/3 cup chopped walnuts 3 tbls. maple syrup 1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate

LE DIPLOMATE

ALLRECIPES.COM

1 (10 oz.) package mixed baby salad greens 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 oz. goat cheese

Place beets into a sauce pan and fill with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook for 20 to 30 minutes or until tender. Drain and cool. Cut into cubes.

While the beets are cooking, place the walnuts in a skillet over medium-low heat. Heat until the nuts begin to toast, then stir in the maple syrup. Cook and stir until evenly coated, then remove from heat and set aside to cool.

In a small bowl, whisk together the orange juice concentrate, balsamic vinegar and olive oil to make the dressing.

Sprinkle candied walnuts and place beets over the mixed greens. Top with dabs of goat cheese. Drizzle each plate with some of the dressing.

RESTAURANT

Japanese Restaurant Shows Off Its Chops JERROD MACFARLANE Hoya Staff Writer

Big dinners — the kind where more than eight overeager diners descend upon one table at one restaurant for one night — are perilous. However, as a good friend prepared to go spend seven months abroad, I found myself in such a situation.

A venue for her parting meal was Chopsticks, a Japanese restaurant in a deceivingly non descript location on Wisconsin.

Chopsticks is deceiving in a city that lacks a distinguished Asian cuisine scene, as the restaurant offers impressively good Japanese fare.

The most popular choice of drink (as this was a celebration) was sake. While I didn’t partake, making excuses of looming school work, I heard plenty of rave reviews from everyone at the table, who seemed to have tried every option on Chopsticks’ sake menu.

If for nothing else, sake seemed to work as an admirable facilitator for breaking the ice and pushing conversation into motion.

The specialty at Chopsticks is sushi, but the restaurant excels across the menu. Everyone at the table was able to partake in communal platters of sushi and appetizers as well as an entree. The service was not perfect, but it was, for the most part, quick and surprisingly responsive for the size of our party; it seems well-suited for dining parties large and small. Moreover, the restaurant has a nice ambience, particularly in the upstairs seating area, which is quite spacious and sparsely decorated.

There is a large selection of sushi at Chopsticks, including a number of house and daily specials. My group ordered a large spread, which included sushi featuring eel, salmon, urchin, Tabasco sauce and avocado, among many other things, in a variety of combinations.

CHOPSTICKS

 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW cuisine: Japanese price: $$$$ In addition to these sushi offerings, I also had spring rolls, edamame, dumplings and chicken teriyaki. Edamame is a delightful snack. It’s a strange, though welcome, feature of a typical Japanese meal, and my meal at Chopsticks was no exception.

The edamame was quite good, coming in a generous bowl and avoiding the pitfalls of excessive salt or staleness. The spring rolls, while small, were quite good and jam packed with fresh vegetables. The dumplings, which were steamed and stuffed with delicious pork, were a highlight. They came with a dipping sauce, and served as a great transition between sushi and heavier fare.

Finally, I had the chicken teriyaki, which, while a staple of Japanese cuisine, is often lifeless or unmemorable. In this case, however, I was quite taken by the generous portion — a healthy serving of chicken covered in just the right amount of sauce, which was neither overly sweet nor over-salted.

On the whole, Chopsticks is a great allaround Japanese offering. Much of the sushi is a tad overpriced, but this is balanced by the relative cheapness of the rest of the menu. In addition, it is highly recommended for large group dinners both in physical space and staff service. So, for anyone looking for a new local Japanese spot, this might be your new favorite choice.

1601 14th St. NW cuisine: French price: $$$$



SIMON REDKO Hoya Staff Writer

Le Diplomate, the European brasserie on the 14th Street corridor, is every bit of the cliche its quasi-French name implies. Among the foreign attaches and locally baked baguettes, the atmosphere of Le Diplomate makes for an endearing downtown bistro. I was hopeful that Le Diplomate’s dishes would be the kind Parisians rave about, but its predictable recipes left much to be desired.

Rustic almost to a fault, Le Diplomate does not attempt to be anything it’s not.

The decor gives off a French country-house ambience, and the utensils look like they are out of a Le Creuset catalogue.

With furnishings as predictably French as the name of the restaurant implies, I expected the food to be similarly traditional and high quality. I wished for flavors to be as big and bold as the eye-popping font featured on the menu.

Only some of the food lived up to my expectations. The macaroni au gratin appetizer was piping hot and oozing with rich, creamy cheese, leaving me feeling stuffed midway through the course.

The sheer heaviness of the dish distinguished it from its American Kraft cousin.

The mushroom tart was sent out completely burned, and although the staff was more than happy to promptly bring a new one, their efforts did little to improve its lackluster taste. The highlight of our appetizers — and frankly the entire menu — was the chicken pate. Although chicken pate gets a bad rap for being the poor man’s version of foie gras terrine, this dish was the star of the menu. This smooth pate and had a strong, pleasant aftertaste that left me wanting more.

Considering how heavy the appetizers were, I was not prepared for the sheer volume of the entrees. The lamb shank and beef bourguignon were both technically well prepared and presented, but neither was tasty enough to

SIMON REDKO/THE HOYA

Le Diplomate’s lamb shank, although nicely presented and technically well prepared, was overdone and oddly bland. inspire me to finish my plate.

While the cous cous was a nice addition to the lamb shank, the presence of yogurt made the dish too thick, and the salty taste made the portion overwhelming. The beef bourguinon was more of the same. There was simply too much going on the plate, and the beef was overdone, leaving a lackluster taste.

Unfortunately, the desserts were another mixed bag.

While classic French apple tarts are known for having thin slices of apples, the thick chunks found in the tarte tatin were more reminiscent of an American apple pie, which I found disappointing in such an authentic atmosphere. This dish was obviously catering to a more

mainstream crowd and ultimately detracted from the experience.

For the mediocre quality, the price point was a bit expensive. With appetizers priced in the mid-teens and entrees approaching $30, Le Diplomate has to compete with a lot of high-end competition, and I don’t think it compares favorably. Had the restaurant been a little bit lighter on the wallet and lighter on the dishes — which were often too heavy in terms of richness and creaminess — I would have looked upon Le Diplomate more favorably.

The entrees, like many cliches, were too familiar to enjoy. Le Diplomate lives up to its name, but not for the right reasons.

HAPPY HOUR SPICY GRAPEFRUIT MARGARITA

thelifestyledblog.com Don’t let your palate be fooled by this pretty pink cocktail, because the citrus and cayenne combo will definitely give your taste buds a kick. To make this spicy cocktail, simmer 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of water and 1/4 tsp. of cayenne pepper in a small saucepan to make a cayenne-flavored simple syrup.

If you’re feeling a little more daring, add another 1/2 tsp. of cayenne. Once the sugar dissolves, let the simple syrup cool in the refrigerator for one to two hours. Then, in a shaker, combine the juice of two grapefruits, 2 oz. of tequila and 1 oz. of the previously prepared simple syrup. To serve, rub a lime wedge around the rim of a glass, dip the rim in salt, pour in the cocktail and enjoy.

ROSEMARY DIAMOND FIZZ

thelifestyledblog.com In the mood to pamper yourself with a new drink? Treat your taste buds to a truly luxurious experience with this glamorous and easy to prepare cocktail. Begin by boiling 1 cup of sugar in 1 cup of water mixed with a few sprigs of rosemary to create a rosemary simple syrup. Cool the simple syrup for one to two hours in the refrigerator. Then mix the juice of half a lemon, 1/2 oz. of the previously prepared rosemary simple syrup, 1 ounce of gin and ice in a cocktail shaker. Drop a lemon slice and a sprig of rosemary in a champagne flute and strain in the gin mix. Top off the rest of the glass with champagne and revel in the glory.

DELAWARE ONLINE

Chopsticks offers delectable and authentic Japanese food, including pork dumplings that are a perfect complement to sushi.

bestbets THINGS THAT GO! Come participate in this fun developmental workshop, inspired by Richard Scarry’s children’s books.

Two teams will control their interactive experience through gaming technology with a different combination of virtual experiences at each performance, ranging from waterskiing on the backs of two alligators to mountain biking.

WHERE: Davis Performing Arts Center WHEN: Check website for times INFO: performingarts.georgetown.edu PRICE: $5

on campus BLACK THEATRE ENSEMBLE COFFEEHOUSE

YOUTH AND PUBLIC SERVICE IN A GLOBAL ERA

YOGA MOVEMENTS AT YOUR DESK

In honor of the centenary of Sophia University, Japan’s first Jesuit university, Sen. Tom Daschle (DS.D.) will deliver a keynote address on “Youth and Public Service in a Global Era.” This symposium will discuss challenges and opportunities for JapanUnited States relations in the Asia-Pacific. This event is open to all, but be sure to RSVP online in advance.

Do you have tight muscles, a sore neck, achy hips or all of the above? Connect your mind and body with simple movements that you can do at your desk to reduce stress. Come and learn simple techniques to listen to your body, utilize your breathing, and gently stretch those tense areas. No yoga experience is necessary!

WHERE: Davis Performing Arts Center WHEN: Monday, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

INFO: performingarts.georgetown.edu PRICE: Free

WHERE:Copley Formal Lounge WHEN: Monday, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

INFO: guevents.georgetown.edu PRICE: Free

WHERE: Leavey Center, Room 338 WHEN: Wednesday, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

INFO: guevents.georgetown.edu PRICE: Free

The Black Theatre Ensemble is kicking off the season with its first coffeehouse session.

Guests are encouraged to share a favorite poem, song, dance, monologue or any original work. This will also serve as an opportunity for those interested in learning about their fall workshop production, “Patient A.”

the guide

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2013

MUSIC

Rector Strums Up The Love

B5

MUSIC

Soundtracks to Heat Up the Semester DYNAMICS

DAYS ARE GONE

Holy Ghost!

KISS LAND The Weeknd

Haim



DFA

POLYDOR RECORDS

Brooklyn electro-pop duo Holy Ghost! earn their name’s signature exclamation point with their sophomore album Dynamics.

Expected Sept. 10, Dynamics oozes underground cool with futuristic disco beats and self-consciously deeper themes, often through glittering choruses and surprising instrument mixes. Holy Ghost!’s sophisticated range will keep you going whether you’re at Yates, powering through late-night work or out for a night on the town.

THE WALKING IN BETWEEN Ben Rector KIM BUSSING Hoya Staff Writer

Maybe you don’t know Ben Rector’s name, but you’ve most certainly heard his music. One of the youngest people to win the John Lennon Songwriting Contest during his freshman year of college, Rector’s piano- and guitarfueled songs have climbed the charts due to word of mouth, and many of his songs have been featured on popular shows like “Drop Dead Diva,” “Pretty Little Liars” and “Modern Family.”

Despite this, Rector has maintained a relatively low profile compared to other well-known singer-songwriters.

But with his most recent release, The Walking in Between, Rector will hopefully finally start to get the attention he deserves.

The Walking in Between poignantly captures the elegance and beauty of ordinary moments with light instrumentals highlighting Rector’s incredible vocals. While it may be easy to write this off as another collection of soft love songs, especially because The Walking in Between comes in the wake of his own marriage, that statement would undermine the craftsmanship and work put into each track.

The opener, “Ordinary Love,” features bright percussion and an upbeat, energetic sound reminiscent of Imagine Dragons and infused with a natural warmth; the song is the definition of an uplifting, upbeat ballad.

While some of Rector’s past songs have fallen into the typical sorrowfully nostalgic track, “Ordinary Love” adapts this genre into something more simple and unassumingly positive.

Perhaps in an effort to break into the mainstream and garner more attention, Rector experiments with a more alternative pop vibe with “When I’m With You.” Although this may signal a stylistic change for future albums, it doesn’t attempt to mask his soaring vocals with synthetic overlay or simplify the lyrics just to make it a quick Top 40 Hit. “I Like You” is a quirky little tune that serves as a playful foil to the much slower “Forever Like That,” although both encapsulate Rector’s knack for writing the quintessential love song. The crooning “Sailboat” is clearly heavily inspired by Rector’s own love story, but there’s something both hopeful and melodic about it that makes it applicable to anyone.

Listening to Rector may make you feel wistful for the type of head-over-heels relationship that permeates the entire album, but looking past the lovesoaked melodies, it’s impossible to deny his intrinsic talent and passion for producing music. The Walking in Between is true love all around.

THE HOYA

RCA RECORDS

REPUBLIC

Los Angeles indie sweethearts — two sisters and their drummer friend — Haim ran the UK festival circuit this summer, finishing just in time for the release of their debut album, Days Are Gone, on Sept. 30. The album is a fusion of iconic California sounds such as bubbling beach pop, soft rock and hook-filled folk, and, if their festival success is any indication, the girls’ power-pop sound is something to be desired.

Already slated as one of Pitchfork’s most anticipated fall albums, Kiss Land, R&B artist The Weeknd’s first full length feature, promises his signature melancholic, misogynistic brand laced with dark electronics. Out Sept. 10, Kiss Land represents The Weeknd’s closest foray into mainstream, trading pining acoustics and sparse beats for techno play and guest appearances by R&B crooner Drake and remix king Pharrell.

BAD BOY RECORDS

COLUMBIA RECORDS

DOMINO RECORDS

BANGERZ

MGMT

THE ELECTRIC LADY

AM

With her now infamous VMA performance, Miley Cyrus simultaneously shattered her Disney princess reputation and launched herself back into the spotlight. So it’s only natural that her newest album, the ridiculously titled Bangerz, due Oct. 4, will be the musical embodiment of Miley’s zaniness.

“We Can’t Stop,” the first single, is already reigning at the top of the Billboard charts, while the balladesque “Wrecking Ball” proves Miley’s vocal chops. In classic Miley form, Bangerz is already being promoted with a slew of crotch-grabbing, halfnaked photos. If her two singles are any indication, we may not want this party to end.

With 2010’s Congratulations, psychedelic pop duo MGMT took a turn for the stranger, creating a lulling drug-fueled dreamscape only distantly related to their grooving hits “Kids” and “Electric Feel.” Their new self-titled album combines Congratulations’ weirdness with the eccentric, kaleidoscopic pop for which they’re known. The album’s single, “Alien Days,” hones in on the band’s ethereal synth manipulation skills, while “Your Life Is a Lie” captures MGMT’s paradoxical farcicality with depressing lyrics and spunky beats.

Like many great absurdists, MGMT creates the feeling that they know something more than the rest of us.

Janelle Monáe, with her blackand-white palette and signature pompadour, is new-wave soul’s current darling. The Electric Lady, in stores Sept. 10, thematically revolves around science fiction pieced together through R&B rhythms and vocal acrobatics. As a conceptually-driven album, The Electric Lady is pure art; it exudes the kind of creativity and gender-bending boundary pushing that many top artists lack. Monáe is a wunderkind, expanding the definition of what soul music means today. The funky “Q.U.E.E.N,” featuring Erykah Badu, takes a progressive step out of Monáe’s futuristic world to discuss realworld problems.

Due Sept. 10, the Arctic Monkeys’ fifth studio album already has the music world abuzz.

Sheffield, England’s hottest band first burst onto the scene in 2006 with Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. Since then, they have successfully matured their sound and broadened their scope, picking up countless accolades and playing in sold out arenas worldwide. AM maintains the Arctic Monkeys’ distinctive rock soundwhile adding hip-hop and electronic tunes. Frontman Alex Turner told NME, “It sounds like a Dr. Dre beat, but we’ve given it an Ike Turner bowl cut and sent it galloping across the desert on a Stratocaster.”

Miley Cyrus

MGMT

Janelle Monáe

Arctic Monkeys

TOP SHELF

The Triumph of the Modern Tear-Jerker

A

t heart, I’m your quintessential book nerd. My favorite word is “bibliophile.” I get giddy going to the library. (Sorry to everyone out there who has received Snapchats of piles of recently checked out books.) I think reading is more fun than watching TV. I read seven books in seven days this summer, just to see if I could.

And if there’s anything that I find more exciting than delving into One Hundred Years of Solitude — although, come on what’s more exciting than reading about the intricate details of an entire familial generation living in a fictional town set in a world of magical realism? — it’s tear-jerkers, my ultimate guilty pleasure. A good cry is like a cold glass of lemonade on a hot summer day: It’s refreshing. And sometimes, watching The Titanic for the 20th time doesn’t do the trick.

Looking for Alaska by John Green is technically a young adult novel, but don’t let that dissuade you. After all, the Harry Potter books were classified as children’s novels and are still perhaps one of the most important book series and cultural phenomena of our generation. Set in Alabama, Alaska tells the story of Miles “Pudge” Halter, who uproots his life in a Holden Caulfield-esque

pursuit of “The Great Perhaps” at death. Slowly, we are drawn into Culver Creek Boarding School. It is the world of Sage’s grandmother, there that he meets Alaska Young a writer and Holocaust survivor, — beautiful, brilliant and larger whose tale is rattling and realistithan life — whose wit, unabashed cally frightening. And just to spice fondness for sex and self-destruc- things up, Picoult introduces us tive behavior quickly ensnare him. to a man whose shadowy past has It is a book about growing up — roots as a Nazi officer at Auschwitz.

This is a book about people feelwe’ve all been there, and I’m sure plenty of us can relate to hangovers ing sorry for themselves, which during class and awkward first sex- makes it less of a book and more ual encounters — guilt and forgive- of a representation of the human population. Like in ness. It’s a book about friendship that reminds Alaska, the characters you that love is not are guilt-ridden, but this when you care only for time, they are struggling someone in good times, through a labyrinth in but also dark ones. search of redemption. Is It will make you cry. it possible to forgive ourAnd it will make you Kim Bussing selves when the monthink. And it will make strous acts we have once you feel hopeful. And it will also committed are ones we would eterteach you a lot of famous last nally punish others for? Is there words. any quantifiable number of good Jodi Picoult’s The Storyteller is a deeds that cancel out one abomifantastic book that weaves together nable one?

Finally, written from the permultiple lives and stories to create a masterpiece whose sole purpose spective of 9-year-old Oskar Schell, could be, arguably, to make you feel Extremely Loud and Incredlots of different and challenging ibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer emotions. Set principally against drags us into post-9/11 New York the backdrop of a bakery with pas- City. Oskar’s father was one of the tries that will make your stomach victims of the attacks, and after growl, the novel introduces Sage discovering a key hidden in his Singer, a baker who sees herself as father’s belongings bearing the the tragic catalyst of her mother’s word “Black,” Oskar sets out on a

quest to discover the owner, even if this means searching the entire city.

This is not an easy book to get through. Not to say it’s difficult to read; the prose is in the precocious voice of a self-proclaimed pacifist, physicist — Oskar regularly sends letters to Steven Hawking — and adventurer. It is engrossing in its innocence. But the innocence also gives us a presentation of personal, adult problems through the eyes of a child. We get a view of the world from just above waist-height, and suddenly, we are handed a depiction of the human condition that is painfully accurate in its ignorance.

This is not an easy book to get through because it’s heavy. Oskar’s relentless hope doesn’t get a happy ending; the only victories are small, and any closure we get is sometimes even smaller. It is very realistic in how things don’t wrap up nicely together, and this is something we may not, as readers, necessarily want in our pursuit of literary escapism. Still, it’s absurdly and beautifully well-written, and I consider it a must-read.

Kim Bussing is a sophomore in the College. TOP SHELF appears every other Friday in the guide.

APTLY NAMED RECORDS

CAITLIN DESANTIS & SIMON REDKO Hoya Staff Writers

around town BAR CHARLEY

ALEXANDRIA ART MARKET

JULIE RUIN AT THE BLACK CAT

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

This Thursday the owners of popular D.C.-area bars Jackie’s, Sidebar and El Chucho will open their new bar, Bar Charley, which focuses on an upscale, but casual, atmosphere. With a wide variety of modern cocktails and on tap tiki drinks all under $7, Bar Charley is an offage college student’s dream.

This Saturday, bring home your own piece of contemporary art for sale from the Alexandria Art Market. The sale will have all sorts of eye-catching works including paintings, photography, jewelry and pottery. Even if you aren’t looking to buy a masterpiece, walking around the market is always a fun way to escape campus and see some interesting art.

Sick of spending Saturday night on campus?

Venture out to the U Street corridor and party like it’s the ’90s. After a long hiatus from the music scene, Bikini Kill frontwoman Kathleen Hanna returns with her new band Julie Ruin.

With their Riot Grrrl punk rock music, this is a concert you won’t want to miss.

In the two weeks we’ve been back on campus, the National Gallery of Art has opened two new exhibits. The West Building is hosting an exhibit featuring contemporary and modern prints, while the East Building has the celebrated work of contemporary African American artist Kerry James Marshall.

WHERE: 1825 18th St. NW WHEN: Ongoing INFO: N/A PRICE: Drinks $3-$14

WHERE: Alexandria, Va. WHEN: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

INFO: www.thedelrayartisans.org PRICE: Free

WHERE: 1811 14th St. NW WHEN: 9 p.m.

INFO: www.blackcatdc.com PRICE: $15

WHERE: 6th St. and Constitution Ave NW WHEN: Ongoing INFO: www.nga.gov PRICE: Free

B6

Sports

THE HOYA

friday, September 6, 2013

Women’s soccer

CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

chris grivas/THE HOYA

Freshman defender Nicole Varela scored the first goal of her young career against George Washington on Friday.

Junior forward Audra Ayotte scored the first goal aginst George Washington. The Hoyas went on today to win the game 2-1.

Freshman midfielder Zoe Park assisted on a first-half goal in Georgetown’s 2-0 victory over Virginia Commonwealth last Sunday.

Hoyas Hit Early Hot Streak, Down GW and VCU Tom schnoor Hoya Staff Writer

The Georgetown women’s soccer team continued its early season roll this past weekend, tallying two wins over local foes George Washington and Virginia Commonwealth.

The successful weekend began with a Friday afternoon trip up the road to face off against crosstown rival George Washington (1-2, 0-0 Atlantic 10).

It was the fifth straight season the two schools had met, with Georgetown (5-0, 0-0 Big East) emerging victorious in all four previous matches. Most recently, the Hoyas took a 2-0 shutout in last year’s season opener.

Despite the recent success for his squad however, Head Coach Dave

Nolan was not taking a win over the Colonials for granted.

“We’re invariably in a big game on their schedule,” Nolan said.

Forty-five minutes in, Nolan’s caution was validated. After a relatively even first 44 minutes, George Washington’s MacKenzie Cowley found herself on the end of a cross from Madison Davis, which she headed home to give the Colonials a 1-0 lead after the first half.

To avoid a disappointing loss, the Hoyas were going to have to score in the second half — a task made far more difficult by the absence of injured junior midfielder Daphne Corboz, the preseason Big East offensive player of the year.

Luckily for the Blue and Gray, junior forward Audra Ayotte was there to answer the call.

Only three minutes into the sec-

ond half, the Connecticut native hit a dipping shot into the right corner of the net to tie the game at one apiece.

Ayotte was at it again less than 20 minutes later, delivering a corner for the Hoyas which freshman defender Nicole Varela managed to slot past George Washington keeper Nicole Ulrick. The goal, the first of Varela’s young career, gave Georgetown a 2-1 lead.

Freshman forward Grace Damaska provided some insurance in the 74th minute, putting the Blue and Gray up 3-1, but George Washington would get one back less than two minutes later. Georgetown held on for the 3-2 victory.

On Sunday, the Hoyas returned to the Hilltop to play Virginia Commonwealth (1-3, 0-0 Atlantic 10).

The Rams, despite their lackluster

record, more than held their own at the beginning of the match and managed to generate several quality scoring opportunities.

“They had a few kids up front who were a real handful,” Nolan said. “In the first 15 minutes, they gave us some trouble.”

The tide seemed to turn for the Hoyas when senior forward Kailey Blain and junior forward Vanessa Skrumbis came on as substitutes midway through the first half.

Georgetown immediately began to push further forward into the Rams’ side of the pitch before finally finding the back of the net in the 31st minute. Blain hit a cross from the left corner that senior forward Kaitlin Brenn headed back across the net to Skrumbis who, with a deft finish, gave the Hoyas a 1-0 lead.

Just before the half, Skrumbis

would strike again when senior defender Colleen Dinn played a corner kick short to freshman Zoe Park who crossed the ball into the box where Skrumbis headed it into the net with authority.

Georgetown took the 2-0 lead into half and did not look back, as both Ayotte and Brenn scored in the second half to secure a comfortable 4-0 win for the Blue and Gray. It was the team’s 14th straight victory at Shaw Field.

To Nolan, who cares just as much about his squad’s form as their results at this early point in the season, the win marked a step forward.

“I’d been at the team all year, each time we step on the field, to try to get our performances a little bit sharper, and I thought we did that today.”

SPORTS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2013

THE HOYA

B7

FOOTBALL

WOMEN’S SOCCER

GU Looks for Strong Start WOMEN’S SOCCER, from B10 some goals.”

For Delaware, the 2013 campaign has gotten off to a rough start. Despite finishing last year a game over .500, the Blue Hens are still looking for their first win of the season.

Records, however, can be deceiving; Delaware’s first three losses of the season have all come by one goal — something Nolan is quick to point out.

“If you look at their other games, they’ve all been tight contests,” Nolan said.

“You don’t know if that’s a situation where they’ve had a couple of bodies out, or if they’re still trying to fit together the pieces of the puzzle.”

When the Hoyas and the Blue Hens meet on Monday, Nolan is confident that the two teams’ records will not be on his squad’s mind.

“I think the kids will remember [the 2-0 victory last year] more than focus on the start that Delaware is off to this year,” Nolan said.

Nolan, as always, wants his squad to be more con-

CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

Senior defensive back Dustin Wharton was named Patriot League player of the week after racking up 12 tackles, a sack and an interception in Georgetown’s loss at Wagner.

CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

Senior defender Emily Menges will be crucial to the Hoyas’ success in this weekend’s matchups. centrated on their own play, rather than the record of their opponent.

“We never worry so much

about what the other team does; we want to make sure we do what we do well,” Nolan said.

Offense Hopes to Recover After Collapse at Wagner opener. This will be the fourth consecutive season in which the two teams have met. Georgetown won the previous three, including most recently forcing an interception in the first half.

As much as the Hoyas dominated the first half, a 35-14 thrashing at Davidson in last year’s season they were outmatched in the second half as the opener.

“Right now, the Davidson game is what I call a Seahawks made halftime adjustments on offense.

The Wagner offense, behind senior running back blind game,” Kelly said. “We don’t have any film Dominique Williams, overpowered Georgetown because they haven’t played yet … so our biggest and scored two touchdowns in the second half, concern is that we really don’t know what they including the game-winning touchdown scored are doing. So our theme this week is for us to get better than last week.” with under three minutes remaining.

After the Blue and Gray’s convincing week one “We were down 21-7 at halftime, and we struggled on offense and gave up too many points, too victory last season, the Wildcats continued to many yards in the second half,” Kelly said. “We struggle to a 2-9 record, only managing wins over didn’t execute very well, and they changed up Valparaiso and long time rival Campbell.

Despite having a roster that boasts 17 seniors their scheme [in the second half]. A lot of it was and several returning starters, the 2013 season is more us, to be frank, as far as execution goes.”

The Seahawk defense also dominated the Hoyas a new era for the Wildcats. Davidson enters this in the second half, as evidenced by 33 yards of season with a new head coach, Paul Nichols, at the helm. Nichols, a former offense. Wagner also forced Davidson quarterback, and an interception that was rean almost entirely new coachturned for the game-tying “The Davidson game ing staff will look to register touchdown. is what I call a blind Davidson’s first winning seaAfter a Blue and Gray threeson since 2007. and-out, Wagner strung to- game. We don’t have Senior quarterback Isagether a 15-play, 58-yard drive iah Kempf and the Hoyas that was capped by a 6-yard any film.”

KEVIN KELLY will look to exploit a relatouchdown run by Williams.

Football Head Coach tively young Wildcat defense, The nearly eight-minute drive gave the Seahawks their first lead of the game at which struggled last season as opponents averaged just over 30 points a game. such a late, crucial moment.

“We’ll take what they give us [on offense],” Kelly In Georgetown’s ensuing drive, the Blue and Gray managed one first down but were ulti- said. “We just have to execute our scheme and play mately unable to advance the ball, and the Se- like we did in the first half against Wagner. If we ahawks took over on downs when Kempf and do that for 60 minutes, we will be successful. “ The Georgetown defense will be tasked with Hill couldn’t connect.

Wharton led the Hoyas with 12 tackles, a sack stopping Davidson offense that is led by senior and an interception against the Seahawks. His quarterback Jonathan Carkhuff and senior tight performance against Wagner earned him Patriot end Reese Williams. Carkuff, the Wildcat’s alltime leading passer, threw for 231 yards on a stagLeague player of the week honors. “[Wharton] started out with a bang, and I ex- gering 50 attempts against the Hoya defense. But pect him to be like that for the rest of the season,” this year, Davidson has abandoned the pass-first offense in favor of a more balanced attack.

Kelly said.

The Hoyas will take on the Wildcats tomorrow The Hoyas will look to rebound as they return to the hilltop to take on Davidson (0-0, 0-0 Pio- at the Multi-Sport Facility. Kick-off is slated for 6 neer League) tomorrow night in the team’s home p.m.

FOOTBALL, from B10

CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

Freshman forward Grace Damaska is one of four Hoyas to have already tallied two goals in the young 2013 season.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Most of Hoyas’ Schedule Appears on National TV BASKETBALL, from B10 in their first Big East Conference game. On Jan. 4, the Hoyas will take on another conference foe, St. John’s, at Verizon Center, with tipoff scheduled for noon.

A series of road games follow for the Blue and Gray, the first of which is against Providence on Wednesday Jan. 8. In the following week, Georgetown plays two new Big East Conference teams: Butler on Jan. 11 and Xavier on Jan. 15.

The Jan. 18 matchup against Seton Hall at noon marks the first home game after students return to campus after winter break. Two days later, the Hoyas play rival Marquette at 9 p.m. On Jan. 25, Georgetown travel to Omaha, Neb., to face the third new Big East team, Creighton, before rounding out the month at home on Jan. 27 against Villanova.

Of the eight conferences games slated for February, three are at home, including Butler on Feb. 8, Providence on Feb. 10 and Xavi-

er on Feb. 22. The rest of the away games include a Madison Square Garden matchup against Michigan State on Feb. 1, a visit to DePaul on Feb. 3, back to New York to face St. John’s on Feb. 16 and then to New Jersey on Feb. 20 to play Seton Hall.

The Hoyas close out February against Marquette on Feb. 27. Georgetown wraps up regular season play against Creighton on March 4 at Verizon Center and Villanova on March 8 in Philadelphia.

The Big East tournament will take place in New York from March 12 to March 15.

Twenty-one of Georgetown’s 30 regular season appearances will air on Fox Sports 1, the new broadcast partner for the Big East. The remaining games, including the opener in South Korea, the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Tournament and the Kansas game, will air on CBS, ESPN or CBS Sports Network. The home matchup against Elon is the only game that will not be nationally televised.

2013-2014 SCHEDULE Oregon: Nov. 8, 7 p.m.

Wright State: Nov. 13, 7 p.m.

Northeastern: Nov. 21, 1 p.m.

Charlotte/Kansas State: Nov. 22, TBD Lipscomb: Nov. 30, noon High Point: Dec. 5, 8 p.m.

Colgate: Dec. 7, noon Elon: Dec. 17, 7 p.m.

Kansas: Dec. 21, noon Florida International: Dec. 28, 1 p.m.

DePaul: Dec. 31, 5 p.m.

St. John’s: Jan. 4, 1 p.m.

Providence: Jan. 8, 7 p.m.

Butler: Jan. 11, 5 p.m.

Xavier: Jan. 15, TBD

Seton Hall: Jan. 18, noon Marquette: Jan. 20, 9 p.m.

Creighton: Jan. 25, 8 p.m.

Villanova: Jan. 27, 9 p.m.

Michigan State: Feb. 1, 3 p.m.

DePaul: Feb. 3, 9 p.m.

Butler: Feb. 8, 1 p.m.

Providence: Feb. 10, 7 p.m.

St. John’s: Feb. 16, 7 p.m.

Seton Hall: Feb. 20, TBD Xavier: Feb. 22, 11:30 a.m.

Marquette: Feb. 27, 9 p.m.

Creighton: March 4, 7 p.m.

Villanova: March 8, 1 p.m.

Bold indicates home game.

B8

Sports

THE HOYA

friday, September 6, 2013

FIELD HOCKey

CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

Freshman forward Alliyah Graves is one of the new players who will be called upon to fill the void left by last year’s lead scorer, Annie Wilson, who graduated last spring.

Junior midfielder Molly Denzel is one of 13 players returning from last season. Both the veteran players and newcomers will need to improve in order to break the losing streak.

Georgetown Hopes to Rebound Against Towson Dillon Mullan Hoya Staff Writer

Since the start of their inaugural Big East season in 2006, the Georgetown field hockey team has gone 3-39 in the conference for a winning percentage of .077. For a newcomer, however, there isn’t exactly much shame in this abysmal record as Connecticut, Louisville, Syracuse and Villanova are traditionally top ten powers. Outside of the conference, the Hoyas have fared better, but their 17-70 record with a win percentage of .242 is still nothing to write home about.

While all this losing cannot be any fun for sixth year head coach Tiffany Hubbard, she has found some positive goals for the 2013 squad to aim for.

“We play a tough schedule against some teams ranked in the top 10, even top 5, in the country.

These programs are established; they have their traditions,” Hubbard said. “Our team has the opportunity to be the first building

blocks of a program and to accomplish firsts. It was just a few years ago that we won our first Big East game.”

The Blue and Gray have started the season with home losses to Davidson, 0-6, and Rider, 1-4. The Rider game was 40-4 at halftime before Georgetown was able to prove themselves in a game for the first time all season and outnumber the opponent in the second half.

Two-thirds of the roster is underclassman, so the casual observer would be rational in thinking the team’s confidence is shaking under the weight of the likelihood of another disappointing losing season.

Hubbard sees things differently.

“If anything, the second half of our Rider game gave us a lot of confidence,” Hubbard said. “We have a young team — for them to build up confidence is crucial. A lot of these freshmen are still creating their own identity.”

three in the country. We’re lucky to play on it.”

After the Towson clash, Georgetown will travel to Pennsylvania for a date with Lock Haven. If the Hoyas are going to come out on top in either of these two games, they are undoubtedly going to need to start scoring some goals.

One in two games isn’t going to cut it. The issue is that Annie Wilson, who led the team in points last season and started every game of her career, has graduated. In fact, the team’s top four scorers from a year ago received their diplomas last tiffany hubbard spring.

Field Hockey Head Coach “We have a lot of underclassmen that are stepping on the campus of the University of up to fill Annie’s shoes. She was distinct, fast and feisty. FortunateMaryland.

“I think we’re used to College ly, we have that in all our younger park, so the travel doesn’t really af- players,” Hubbard said. “They really fect us. It isn’t that far,” Hubbard possess Annie’s grit and speed. We said. “Not many people have been were lucky to have [had] her here, over there to see what an amazing but the people we have now can facility it is, one of the top two or surpass her.”

The Hoyas have two weeks to get things straight before their Big East opener against Providence on Spetember 20. Friday night, they play host to Towson, who lost to Davidson 21-2 this past Sunday.

Like all of their home games, this contest will be held in College Park,

“We’re taking this week by week, game by game. Every week we ask, have we improved? Where do we need to improve?”

alexander brown/THE HOYA

Alexander Brown/THE HOYA

Sophomore midfielder Louise Chakejian (center) started 15 of 19 games last season and totaled nine shots, including two against Lock Haven.

Hubbard called on freshman goalkeeper Rosalie Nolen between the pipes in the first two games of the season, and she performed admirably, especially against Rider, when she had 13 saves. Sophomoremidfielder Emily Weinberg and sophomore forward Sarah Butterfield, who has the Hoyas lone goal so far this season, will have to step up and lead the offense if this team is to be successful. They are the top returning scorers from last year’s team.

“We’re taking this week by week, game by game. We have nothing to lose,” Hubbard said. “This is the most talented group that’s been here since I’ve been here. Every week we ask, “Have we improved?

Where do we need to improve?”

Georgetown field hockey could improve immensely this weekend with a pair of wins. It is critical that they avoid another pair of losses; even the brightness of Hubbard’s confidence may not be able to fight off ominous approach of another losing season.

Sophomore midfielder Taylor Craig, who saw action in only five games last season, is one player looking to replace the team’s four leading scorers, who all graduated last year.

down to the wire

We’re Too Busy Tebowing to Notice Real Issues T

he New England Patriots recently cut Tim Tebow, causing President Obama to issue a warning to the citizens of Bristol, Conn., because there might have been fatal riots at ESPN headquarters. Or, at least, I thought he was going to have to do that. But you might be surprised to know that sports networks weren’t the only ones covering Tebow’s release intently.

CNN jumped into the ring, covering Tebow’s departure with probably more interest than they’ve covered any recent football player’s release. We should have expected it, though, because CNN cut away from a presidential speech on immigration in June when the Patriots signed Tebow. Apparently, Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick’s press conference, mostly consisting of questions about Tebow, was vastly more important than U.S. immigration policy.

For two reasons, I still can’t believe that CNN would make such a move. First, anyone with a basic knowledge of anything NFL-related knows that getting information out of Bill Belichick during a press conference is impossible. But, secondly and most importantly, an incredibly

minor move in the NFL shouldn’t take precedence over a speech on immigration.

Now, it’s hard to find a bigger sports fan than me, considering that I may or may not have jokingly referred to both Bill Belichick and Tom Brady as “gods.” And I don’t think that it’s an average person’s job to care about politics at the level that most Georgetown students. But CNN’s decision to cut away from the speech, especially when they could have easily replayed the press conference when Obama’s speech was over, reflects the utter hypocrisy of the media and the American people, as well as the distorted priorities of our political and sports media sources.

If you’ve watched five seconds of cable news, you’ve probably seen a talking head discussing how either the opposite political party or the American people in general are “focusing on the wrong things.” If there’s a minor scandal in the Democratic Party that Republicans are currently attacking, liberal talking heads will say, “We shouldn’t be focusing on this — we should be focusing on immigration/jobs/terrorism!”

When the tables are turned, con-

servative talking heads will say the same. Such a statement is true and logical — that is, until your network decides to cut away from a speech on a legitimate issue to listen to Bill Belichick say over and over, “We’re going to use Tim in ways that help

Tom Hoff

Sometimes, sports shouldn’t take priority. the team.” We shouldn’t be talking about a third quarterback for the Patriots — we should be talking about immigration.

In a case like this, the American people are to blame almost as much as a network like CNN. CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and other networks are routinely guilty of playing up minor political issues for ratings,

yet ignoring the more substantive stories out of laziness or sensationalism. But it’s important to remember that the networks wouldn’t air such coverage if people didn’t watch it.

Many Americans will criticize politicians and political networks for things like a lack of transparency and not truly caring about an average person, but then they’ll actually watch the incorrectly prioritized coverage. It is this hypocrisy that I have a problem with. While the media has a duty to keep us informed of the important issues that affect us, the American people also should be consistent between their normative statements and viewing patterns.

Just about everyone knows that Tim Tebow, a mediocre — at best — quarterback, is out of a job. However, I’ll bet that most serious sports fans are unaware that the state of Michigan recently approved $450 million of public money to be invested for a new arena for the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, despite the fact that Detroit is, you know, bankrupt. While professional sports are a huge help to their employees and local businesses, many studies have shown that public funding of sports

stadiums similar to the level that the Red Wings brass will receive do not end up benefitting the cities in the end.

On a similar subject, but with a much more aggravating example, Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria suckered Miami-Dade County into putting up $155 million of taxpayer money into a new stadium deal that was so shady that the SEC decided to investigate it. If these were the kinds of issues that people followed and that the media properly made a priority to show us, maybe the citizens of a city would be able to influence their local government to stop making investments that would hurt the area’s growth.

In a country where more than half the citizens don’t know who their congressman is, I’d like to believe that we can be die-hard sports fans while still realizing what the key issues are. But I guess it’s more important to discuss the Patriots releasing their third-string quarterback than the stuff that really matters.

Tom Hoff is a junior in the McDonough School of Business. DOWN TO THE WIRE appears every Friday.

sports

friday, September 6, 2013

MEN’s soccer

THE HOYA

B9

More than a game

We All Should Root For RGIII’s Comeback I

File Photo: CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

Junior goalkeeper Tomas Gomez will have to be at the top of his game against the talented strikers of WVU and New Mexico. The Hoyas play WVU at 4 p.m. on Friday and NMU on Sunday at noon.

GU Preps for Home Openers Laura Wagner Hoya Staff Writer

The No. 11 Georgetown men’s soccer team (1-1, 0-0 Big East) will take to Shaw field on Friday at 4 p.m. in its first official home game since the thrilling Elite Eight victory over San Diego last fall in the NCAA tournament.

Facing off against a young but athletic West Virginia team (20-2, 0-0 Mid American Conference), Georgetown will need to play its best brand of soccer to come away with the win.

“If we make mistakes, they’re going to punish us,” Head Coach Brian Wiese said. “That’s the difference in games like this.”

WVU recorded a 9-6-2 overall record last year, but with only two seniors on the roster and a mere five returning starters from last year’s team, they lack the game experience of the more cohesive Hoya squad. Wiese, however, is focused on the Mountaineers’ talent, not their age. “[WVU Head Coach] Marlon LeBlanc is tactically very, very good, and he’s going to have a

plan for and have his guys prepared,” Wiese said. “Whether they’re young or old is irrelevant with this team. They’ve got some really dangerous players and they’re going to be hungry and aggressive.”

There is one Mountaineer, especially, that is on Wiese’s radar: junior forward and 2011 Big East Rookie of the Year Andy Bevin. The New Zealand native was named to the all-MAC Second Team last year and according to Wiese, promises to be “a real handful.”

On Sunday, the Hoyas take on explosive No. 9 New Mexico (1-0, 0-0 Conference USA) at noon on Shaw Field. The Lobos proved their offensive chops in their season opener against Villanova, routing the Wildcats 7-2. Senior midfielder Michael Calderon, junior forward James Rogers and freshman forward Niko Hansen each scored a pair of goals in the decisive victory.

“They’re a very athletic team and they attack quickly, so again, it’s just one of those games where we have to be good,” Wiese said. “Their rank-

ing is absolutely right because they’re a top-10 team no question.”

The Blue and Gray’s defense must hold up under pressure to secure the win. Because it’s the second game of the weekend, the Hoyas’ depth will be an advantage.

The even bigger edge for the Hoyas, however, will be the home field.

“My favorite opposing coach quote was the San Diego coach last year who blamed our students for the first goal [in the Elite Eight game]. He said, ‘The students were close and they were yelling and our goalie couldn’t hear and this and that.’ It was great; that’s what playing on the road is about, and I hope the students appreciate their value,” Wiese said.

To kick off the opening slate of home games and encourage the same level of student support as last season, the sports marketing and promotions department hung Georgetown soccer scarves all over campus Thursday night for students to pick up and bring to games.

n a statement earlier this week, Red- alties and the mindless points stacking skins Head Coach Mike Shanahan up on our fantasy teams. For a few hours announced that Robert Griffin III every Sunday, we watch the game solely will start the season opener. After tear- for the purpose of watching the game. ing ligaments in his knee last January, But love alone will not guarantee RGIII will be back on the field just in that RGIII’s comeback will be a success. time for the biggest stage of the regular Though he has the will the win, his season — Monday night football. D.C. unique skills predispose him to injury. fans breathed a collective sigh of relief, Athletic quarterbacks have a propenas their quarterback’s return is coming sity for making big plays, but they also not a moment too soon. With the Na- endure many more collisions. Listed at tionals winding down a bitterly disap- 6 feet, 2 inches, and 217 pounds, RGIII pointing season and the Capitals still a has a solid build, but perhaps not solid month away from their opening faceoff, enough; compare that to Cam Newton’s it is the Redskins’ turn in the spotlight. 6-foot-5-inch, 245-pound frame or AnTheir second-year quarterback has a drew Luck’s 6-foot-4-inch, 239-pound lot riding on his shoulders. Yet, at just build. The Redskins’ quarterback may 23 years old, he seems more than ma- have more speed, but surviving the NFL ture enough to carry the load. In a sport is ultimately about durability, and Grifso wildly popular and teeming with dis- fin’s mass — combined with his risky tractions, RGIII remains unfazed by the style of play — may be the perfect storm attention, speculation or media chatter. for an injure-riddled career.

As some of his colleagues struggle to No fan wants to see that. Football deal with fines, attitude needs players like RGIII problems and off-theback on the field. His field controversies, RGIII electricity reminds us is as level headed as they why over 15 million viewcome. He has earned the ers tune in on an averrespect of teammates, age Sunday afternoon. It who elected the rookie is why we watch a game as the Redskins offenthat makes us grimace sive captain last year. He whenever we see a brutal Nick Fedyk has earned the trust of collision or an injured his coaches and doctors, player laying on the field. who cleared him to play RGIII’s resilience It is why football remains in the first week. He has America’s most popular is just part of his sport despite the conearned the praise of fans, who have adopted “RGIII” stant presence of violence appeal. as the latest catch phrase and barbarity. for a resurgent franchise.

We watch because as Those five characters are as big of a part much as we fear that next devastating of D.C. sports culture as the Redskins’ collision, we believe in the comeback. red and gold.

We shirk at the pain, but we believe that By all accounts, he is bigger than Al- it will all get better soon. The swelling exander Ovechkin, Bryce Harper or Ste- will go down, and the blood will stop phen Strasburg. Even in the middle of running. Those bruised bodies will bethe offseason, when football seemed so come healthy again, ready to escape far away, Griffin’s name was still domi- tacklers and throw touchdowns in the nating the headlines. His knee injury ig- next season. nited one of our gravest fears. He starred We hold onto the hope that there are in a TV documentary about his own life more comebacks than careers ended.

— aptly named “The Will to Win.” He We hope that RGIII will have another signed book deals and was featured on 76-yard running touchdown and anthe covers of magazines. We even got the other defiant trip to the playoffs. There inside scoop on his wedding plans and is precedent to follow: Adrian Peterson discovered his outlandish taste in socks. and Peyton Manning did it last year, and There are a thousand reasons to like Tom Brady did it in 2009. this guy. At least half of those reasons Football fans are an optimistic bunch. exist on the field — his unbridled athlet- Our hopes may not always coincide icism, his 76-yard touchdown scampers with the violent reality of the sport, but down the sideline, his arm strength and we hang on to the desperate belief that creative improvisation. We love him for things are never as bad as they seem. As playing through the pain, for hobbling a new season begins, videos of RGIII runback onto the field with an injured knee ning sprints in his knee brace is all the and bravely trying to complete another proof we need. pass at the end of last season. We love him because he is so fun to watch, and Nick Fedyk is a senior in the College. he makes us forget our hometown loy- MORE THAN A GAME appears every Friday.

VOLLEYBALL

Men’s Soccer

Hoyas Head to NC for Tourney VOLLEYBALL, from A10 was huge,” Williams said.

In game two, the Blue and Gray took on American University (3-0, 0-0 Patriot League), who evened Georgetown’s record by winning in three sets. However, Williams was pleased with the team’s execution.

“I think against American we actually did some things better than we did against George Mason,” she said.

Saar led the team with 11 kills and 7 digs, and freshman setter Caitlin Brauneis recorded 25 assists.

“You could see that we were trying to execute the game plan,” Williams said. “We were more disciplined defensively, we were taking care of more balls passingwise. They’re just huge, and they were really good. I do think that we actually stepped up our level of play, but it was against tougher competition.”

With that elevated play, the Hoyas then faced Howard, winning 3-1.

“That was just taking care of the details from the beginning to the end,” Williams said.

Johnson led the Hoyas with 17 kills, and White added 14; key plays from Ashlie Williams, Simpson and redshirt senior Annalee Abell clinched the victory.

“We’re seeing big swings from [Abell] and [White], Alex Johnson is doing a great job for us on the outside, Lauren Saar’s passing nails, [Simpson’s] digging balls and we’re serving tough,” Williams said.

On Tuesday, the Hoyas travelled to Virginia to take on Liberty (13), who was seeking its first win.

Georgetown lost three sets to one, dropping to 2-2, but the match

was tight into the final points of each set.

“I think that at times we showed true heart. You can tell that these players love this program, they love being out on the floor and they’re fighters,” Williams said.

Again, multiple Hoyas made strong contributions on the floor.

Johnson had 16 kills and 12 digs, Saar added 11 kills and 17 digs, White had 10 kills and Abell had a season-best 13. Simpson continued to be a game-changing presence with 18 digs.

“We were in there neck and neck. They’re used to winning, and they were at home,” Williams said. “So I think that it speaks very highly to our group that we’re in there competing with a team like Liberty.”

Now with their first four games under their belt, White feels that the team has reached a turning point.

“I think we definitely know what we need to work on to move forward with the season, but we’re looking really good,” White said. Georgetown will move forward in the Campbell Tournament this weekend, where they first face Indiana State (2-1) coming off a sweep of Chicago State.

“We’re hyped, excited,” White said. “Indiana’s going to be a great match on Friday.”

The Hoyas will then move on to North Carolina Central, a team that has yet to record a win this season. But that doesn’t matter to Williams.

“I think that we approach the match the same way that we approach every match that we play.

We’re going to go out there and play Georgetown volleyball and try to take care of business,” she said.

The final tournament match is

Neumann Scores Twice In Win Over Stanford MEN’S SOCCER, from A10 forward Jordan Morris took a shot that got past Gomez and looked destined for the back of the net, but Yaro stepped up and saved it off the line.

“Joshua has been playing in there as a freshman and looking more and more settled. I really do think he’s going to be a special player here at Georgetown,” Wiese said.

Approximately 20 minutes later, freshman forward Alex Muyl was taken down in the box, drew a red card and was awarded the penalty kick. Senior midfielder Steve Neumann converted on the opportunity, and the Hoyas entered the half leading 1-0.

“Winning on the road is rarely pretty,” Wiese said. “You have to fight and grind and find a way to win.”

Playing down a man in the second half, Stanford still managed to keep the pressure up, forcing Gomez to make several saves.

“Tomas has emerged over the weekend as a very important leader,” Wiese said. “Even in the Cal game where he conceded two goals, he made some great saves. You heard him being positive, yelling — he was trying to get the guys going.”

Finally, in the 88th minute, Georgetown took a commanding lead when sophomore forward Brandon Allen’s shot was saved by Stanford’s keeper only to ricochet to the feet of Neumann, who buried it in the net for his second goal of the match.

“We were very tough, gritty, resilient, and we handled a pretty tough environment and a physical, talented athletic Stanford team who has maybe the two best forwards in the country, behind our guys,” Wiese said.

The Hoyas begin their home stand on Friday at 4 p.m. against West Virginia before facing New Mexico at 12 p.m. Sunday.

File Photo: CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

Red shirt junior Elizabeth Riggins had three kills during D.C. tourney. against host Campbell (2-2, 0-0 Big South).

“I think the home team still has a little bit of an advantage, and we’re going to try to squash that,” Williams said.

In that spirit, White asserts that Georgetown is coming out fired up and ready to win. “[We’re] always hungry for competition. Never back down from anybody, we’re a team that likes to get after it. Prove people wrong,” Williams said.

ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

Senior forward Steve Neumann scored both goals in Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Stanford, which evened up the team’s record at 1-1.

SPORTS

Volleyball Georgetown vs. Indiana State Friday, 12:30 p.m.

Blues Creek, N.C.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2013

STARTING STRONG

The Hoyas roll to a 5-0 record in weekend wins over GW and VCU. See B6

TALKING POINTS

“

NUMBERS GAME

33 ”

They’re a top-10 team, no question.

Men’s soccer Head Coach Brian Wiese on New Mexico’s No. 9 ranking

MEN’S SOCCER

The total yardage for GU in the second half against Wagner.

FOOTBALL

Georgetown Splits Hoyas Drop Season Opener On West Coast Trip Offense goes silent in second half of 28-21 loss at Wagner CAROLYN MAGUIRE

LAURA WAGNER

the first half, the Hoyas entered the break trailing by one. Just two minutes into the second half, the The Georgetown men’s soccer Golden Bears doubled their lead team traveled to the Golden State due to a costly Georgetown foul in last weekend to kick off its 2013 the box that resulted in a penalty season. Their first game against shot and a goal.

Cal, however, ended in disappoint“We were down 2-0, and the ing a 0-2 defeat. team really fell to pieces,” Wiese Though the Blue and Gray con- said. “They didn’t respond how trolled the tempo for the first 30 they needed to.” minutes, blasting four shots in After the second goal, the Hoyas the first 12 minutes, they failed to offense slowed considerably, and convert any of their early chances, the Blue and Gray recorded just and it was three more the Golden for the “Joshua has been ... look- shots Bears that rest of the put up the ing more and more settled. game. first point The Hoyas in the 41st I really do think he’s going made up for minute. Cal their lessjunior mid- to be a special player.” than-stellar fielder Conperformance BRIAN WIESE nor Hallisey a ga i n st Men’s Soccer Head Coach rocketed a Berkeley by shot from 25 yards out that snuck defeating Stanford 2-0 on Sunday.

by Georgetown junior goalkeeper Two days before playing GeorgeTomas Gomez in the lower right town, Stanford tied 3-3 with Marycorner. land, who was ranked No. 2 in the “Friday was incredibly disap- preseason. pointing for a lot of reasons,” Though the Cardinals were on Head Coach Brian Wiese said. “But the attack early in the first half, interestingly enough, we played Georgetown defenders, including our best soccer on Friday. We were freshman Joshua Yaro, held strong very good in the first half, but to keep the game scoreless. In the didn’t handle the adversity that 25th minute, Stanford freshman always comes on the road.”

See MEN’S SOCCER, B9 Despite outshooting Cal 6-4 in

Hoya Staff Writer

Hoya Staff Writer

With 1 minute left in the Georgetown football team’s season opener at Wagner, senior quarterback Isaiah Kempf dropped back to pass, intending to connect with freshman receiver Justin Hill. But the pass fell incomplete, securing the 28-21 victory for the Seahawks.

Despite leading 21-7 at the half, the Hoyas’ (0-1, 0-0 Patriot League) offense struggled in the second half, managing a measly 33 yards of total offense, which allowed the Seahawks (1-0, 0-0 MAAC) to earn the comeback win.

“I honestly think that we let that one slip away,” Head Coach Kevin Kelly said. “I have to give Wagner credit; they played extremely hard.

They have an excellent football team. It’s too bad we didn’t get it, because I think we should have won that football game.”

Kempf, who was making his return after missing the majority of last season due to an injury, led the Blue and Gray on a 13-play, 84-yard drive that resulted in a first-half touchdown. The offensive firepower continued throughout the first half for the Hoyas, as they amassed 265

The Georgetown volleyball team has officially started their 2013 campaign. Right now, it’s sitting comfortably at .500. But they’re hungry for more.

“It’s about going out and playing Georgetown volleyball, and for us, that means just passionate, work hard, get-after-it volleyball,” Head Coach Arlisa Williams said.

The Hoyas (2-2, 0-0 Big East) began on a high note with a 3-1 victory in the D.C. Challenge over cross-town rival George Mason (13, 0-0 Atlantic 10).

“Whenever we get a win under our belts, we’re pretty excited,” Williams said. “It allows us to see the things we do well and also gives us a taste of what we still

need to work on while we still have success.”

Junior Alex Johnson led the team with 19 kills, sophomore Lauren Saar contributed 14 and junior Dani White recorded a .440 attack percentage on her way to 13. In her debut, freshman Ashlie Williams had one block and three kills.

“We don’t have one player that any team can focus on. They have to worry about all of us, and I don’t think that you can defend all five of us all the time,” Williams said.

Defensively, libero MacKenzie Simpson led the team with 19 digs, and the Hoyas fended off tough runs by the Patriots for their first victory of the season.

“The win over George Mason See VOLLEYBALL, B9

Delaware Next Up for Undefeated Hoyas Hoya Staff Writer

The Georgetown women’s soccer team (5-0, 0-0 Big East), fresh off a 2-0 victory over N.C. State (4-1, 0-0 ACC) in Raleigh on Wednesday night, will return to the Hilltop this Sunday for a 4 p.m. kickoff against Delaware (0-3, 0-0 CAA).

The game will be a rematch of an early season contest last year that the Hoyas took 2-0.

“That was a very difficult game,” Head Coach Dave Nolan said.

“They gave us a lot of trouble; we got a couple of good goals at crucial moments, but it was a real tough contest.”

Scoring and assisting on the two goals Georgetown scored last year was then sophomore midfielder Daphne Corboz. This Sunday, however, the Hoyas will be without the services of Corboz, who was named preseason Big East offensive player of the year. The junior

has been battling an injury that has kept her off the pitch all season.

Her absence has been difficult to deal with.

“I don’t know if there’s a team in the country that could lose a player of her quality and still perform at the same level,” Nolan said.

Thus far, howe, Georgetown seems to be doing a good job of filling in for Corboz’s lost production. In their previous four games, the Hoyas have scored two, four, three and five goals. Nolan, however, insists that the Blue and Gray’s success is about more than simply replacing their star.

“I think [the recent offensive success] has more to do with the creative ability of the players individually,” Nolan said. “With [Corboz] not being on the field now, our players are forced to use their other ways of playing to get us See WOMEN’S SOCCER, B7

See FOOTBALL, B7

MEN’S BASKETBALL

WOMEN’S SOCCER

TOM SCHNOOR

limited Wagner to just 129 offensive yards and one touchdown while

Simpson Shines in Win Georgetown To Open In Korea

Hoya Staff Writer

ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

yards of total offense while scoring three touchdowns.

The Georgetown defense, led by senior linebacker Dustin Wharton,

VOLLEYBALL

JULIANA ZOVAK

Freshman defender Joshua Yaro stepped up in a big way on Sunday against Stanford, saving a shot that would have otherwise been a goal.

FILE PHOTO: CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

Senior running back Nick Campanella and company will have to be more productive on the offensive side of the ball if they want to be victorious.

CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

Junior forward Audra Ayotte scored against GW to help the Hoyas to their fourth straight win on the young season.

Visit us online at thehoya.com/sports

LAURA WAGNER Hoya Staff Writer

For many Hoyas fans, it’s never too early to get amped up about the men’s basketball team. But now that the 20132014 regular season schedule has been announced, the annual basketball frenzy can begin in earnest.

At 7 p.m. on Friday Nov. 8, Georgetown will tip off against Oregon in the Armed Forces Classic at Camp Humphreys U.S. Army Base in South Korea.

The game will be televised on ESPN — one of 29 national television appearances the Hoyas will make this season.

SEE FULL SCHEDULE ON B7 After the opener in South Korea, the Blue and Gray will return home to play host to Wright State at the Verizon Center on Nov. 13 before taking off for Puerto Rico for the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Tournament. If all goes well, the Hoyas — who are scheduled to face Northeastern on Nov. 21 — will play in the final on Nov. 24.

The world travels will then return to the nation’s capital for a series of four non-conference home games against Lipscomb on Nov. 30, High Point on Dec. 5, Colgate on Dec. 7 and Elon on Dec. 17.

Georgetown will wrap up road nonconference play for the calendar year at Kansas on Saturday, Dec. 21, then finish up at home against Florida International on Dec. 28.

The Hoyas will ring in the New Year by hosting DePaul on Tuesday, Dec. 31 See BASKETBALL, B7