William and Mary Women’s Soccer Thrashes St. John’s in Season Opener, 5-0

College soccer has officially begun here in Virginia and William & Mary opened  it with a statement win. The William and Mary Tribe women's soccer team used four second-half goals to post an impressive 5-0, season-opening victory over St. John's at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field.  With the win, the Tribe starts the 2011 campaign at 1-0, while St. John's falls to 0-1.

Juniors Mallory Schaffer and Cortlyn Bristol each had a pair of goals to lead the Tribe, while freshman Anna Madden had a goal and an assist in her first collegiate match.  Sophomore Dani Rutter and freshman Emory Camper each had a pair of assists, while senior Diana Weigel and junior Jackie Blake-Hedges also had helpers in the victory.

The College had two great looks at goal in the just two minutes in to the match.  On the attack, sophomore Dani Rutter beat a pair of SJU defenders to get a good look from 10 yards out.  Rutter's shot was saved by the Red Storm keeper, but the deflection came right to the foot of junior Mallory Schaffer.  Schaffer had a nice opportunity, but her shot sailed wide.

Throughout the first half, the Tribe dominated possession, out-shooting St. John's, 14-4.  Finally after some great looks, the Green and Gold broke through with a goal in the 42nd minute.  After a turnover near midfield, Weigel took control and dribbled down the left side of the pitch.  Weigel found a streaking Bristol down the middle of the pitch with just one defender to beat.  After nearly getting drug down at the top of the 16-yard box, Bristol finished to the left of the SJU keeper as she fell to the ground, scoring the Tribe's first goal of the 2011 season.  At the half, the College led the Red Storm, 1-0.

The Green and Gold wasted little time doubling its advantage out of the intermission. Madden tallied her first career goal off a rebound to give the College a 2-0 lead at the 48:31 mark.  Rutter initiated the attack breaking free a defender on the left side of the box. Her shot on goal was blocked by SJU goalkeeper Kristin Russell, but it fell to the feet of Madden, who collected and hammered home to the center netting from six yards out. It marked the first collegiate point for Rutter.

Madden and Rutter got in on the act again nearly 15 minutes later, setting up Bristol's second marker of the night. Madden started the attack setting Rutter free down the right side of the 18-yard box. The Tribe sophomore sent a cross to the center of the penalty area that found the Bristol, who toe-poked it home past the diving Red Storm keeper in the 63rd minute. It marked the third time in the junior forward's career that she his tallied a pair of goals in a game.

Schaffer recorded the College's final two goals on the night just over three minutes apart. The first came after Bristol sent Camper free down the left wing. The Green and Gold rookie made a nice move to beat a St. John's defender and gain space, before sending a perfect cross to the back post. A streaking Schaffer volleyed the cross into the right side netting to increase the margin to 4-0 at the 79:44 mark. It was the first collegiate point for Camper on the assist.

Just over three minutes later, it was another Camper-Schaffer combination with a little help from Blake-Hedges. Camper found Blake-Hedges along the left side of the area, before she touched a pass to the top of the 18, finding a wide-open Schaffer. The First-Team All-CAA selection from a season ago did the rest, finishing to the right side of the frame for her sixth career two-goal game. The Allison Park, Pa., native owns 16 career tallies for the Tribe. It marked the first career point for Blake-Hedges.
The Tribe's five-goal win over the Red Storm was the biggest for the College in a season-opening victory since the Green and Gold defeated American, 8-0, to start the 1996 campaign.  Overall, the five-goal win ties for the fourth-largest season-opening victory in program history.

The William and Mary Tribe women's soccer team will next be in action on Friday, August 26, when the College will play Appalachian State in the VCU Tournament.  Kickoff in Richmond, Virginia is scheduled for 4 p.m.