Tribe Soccer Program Lends Helping Hand in the Community

Courtesy TribeAthletics.com

Tue, March 26, 2013 

 

Courtesy TribeAthletics.com

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William and Mary men’s and women’s soccer programs recently volunteered in the Williamsburg community over the weekend.  Both programs devoted their time to helping out Child Development Resources (CDR) with their 35th Annual Bid’n Buy Auction, which was held at the Williamsburg Hotel & Conference Center.

 

“Assisting CDR with their 35th Annual Bid ‘N Buy Auction was a terrific service experience for us,” stated men's head coach Chris Norris.  “We are humbled by the work they do for families in our community and grateful for the opportunity to help them raise funds and awareness.”

 

Child Development Resources (CDR) was founded in Williamsburg in 1966 as a preschool for special children. Today, CDR benefits and cares for an estimated 1,000 children and their families each year. An extensive asset for parents, teachers and physicians, CDR spearheads Virginia's Infant and Toddler Specialist Network.

 

For all the latest on William and Mary soccer check out TribeAthletics.com.

Tribe Men Fall to Georgia State, 2-1

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The William and Mary men's soccer team dropped a hard-fought, 2-1, decision to Georgia State on Wednesday night from Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly field.  After junior captain Will Smith netted the equalizer in the 60th minute, GSU countered with the game-winner in the 82nd minute.  W&M's record falls to 2-8-3 on the year and 0-3-2 in CAA play, while Georgia State improves to 4-7 overall and 1-3 in league action. 

Courtesy TribeAthletics.com

In the early going, Georgia State didn't shy away in looking to take the initial advantage.  Just over a minute into the contest, from 20-yards away, GSU freshman William Mellors-Blair sent a high bending rocket on frame, but the attempt was thwarted away by W&M sophomore keeper Bennett Jones' outreached right hand.  In the 38th minute, GSU took the lead when sophomore Peter Kurowski punched home a cross from sophomore Bo Stroup.  Minutes before intermission, freshman Ryan Flesch was on the verge of tying the affair as the Manassas, Va., native cranked a shot from just outside the 18 that resulted in a GSU save.

Looking for a second-half spark, juniors Roshan Patel and Will Smith provided just that for the Green and Gold.  In the 60th minute, the College generated a free-kick opportunity just shy of midfield.  That's when Patel sent the service to Smith, who blasted home the equalizer from just outside the six on the right side.  The set-piece score was the first of Smith's career, while the helper was the first of Patel's career.  With the momentum in its favor, the College reeled off three unanswered shots, which was highlighted by junior Chris Perez's attempt on frame that was batted away by GSU senior keeper Vincent Foermer in the 68th minute.  The Panthers connected on the difference maker when senior Alex Vivanco headed in Stroup's corner kick in the 82nd minute.

For the match, Georgia State outshot the College, 18-11, which included a 9-4 edge in shots on goal.  Jones finished the night tying his career-high with seven saves in all 90 minutes of action between the posts for the Tribe.  All-time, the Green and Gold is 6-4 against Georgia State. 

The Tribe returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 13, as it travels to George Mason for a 7 p.m. match.

Tribe Men Host UNCW Wednesday

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The William and Mary men's soccer team welcomes the UNCW Seahawks to Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field on Wednesday, Oct. 3, in a match slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff.  Fans can follow the action online at TribeAthletics.com with live video and stats.

Scouting the Tribe
The College enters the match against the Seahawks with an overall record of 2-6-2 and a CAA ledger of 0-1-1.  W&M looks to rebound on Wednesday night after dropping a league match to Drexel in its last outing.  Senior Ben Anderson leads the Tribe with eight points coming on two goals and four assists.  Sophomore's Chris Albiston and Marcus Luster have netted two goals each, while junior Chris Perez has tallied a goal and one assist.  Sophomore keeper Bennett Jones has posted two shutouts and 39 saves in 10 starts between the posts.  After hosting UNCW, the Green and Gold will continue conference play on the road at Towson on Saturday, Oct 6. 

Scouting the UNCW
The Seahawks come to Williamsburg with a record of 4-5-1 on the year and a 1-1 mark in CAA action.   UNCW earned its first league victory of the season by edging Hofstra, 3-2 on Sept. 29.  Senior Michael Recchia's goal with three seconds remaining lifted UNCW to the victory over the Pride.  Sophomore's Jamie Dell and Mateo Cardona lead the Seahawks with three goals each.  For the year, UNCW has used a trio of keepers with sophomore Brandon Bolden leading the way with 17 saves in five starts.

News and Notes
- Wednesday's match will mark the 39th meeting between the Tribe and Seahawks, as W&M leads the all-time series 33-2-3.  If your keeping score aggregately, W&M has tallied 120 goals compared to UNCW's 20.  Last year, the Green and Gold defeated the Seahawks, 1-0 in Wilmington, N.C.

- Through 10 contests, the Green and Gold have generated a CAA leading 160 shots.  The Green and Gold's 41 saves rank second in the league, while its 53-corner kick's also rank second.  Individually, Ben Anderson ranks second in the conference with four assists.   

- The Seahawks have compiled a road record of 2-3 on the year as it makes its second road trip into the state of Virginia this season.  On Sept. 22, UNCW opened CAA play dropping a 2-0 decision at George Mason.

- Since 1982, W&M owns a record of 2-3 when it plays on Oct. 3.  However, both Tribe victories on the third day of the month have come against UNCW (1992 and 2004). 

Tribe Men Fall in OT to Elon

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The William and Mary men's soccer team fell to Elon, 2-1, in overtime on Wednesday night from Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field.  At halftime, the Tribe owned a 1-0 lead behind sophomore Chris Albiston's goal in the 36 minute.  However, Elon sent the contest into overtime after connecting on the equalizer almost mid-way through the second period.  The Phoenix went on to net the difference maker with a penalty kick goal in the overtime session.  The Tribe falls to 2-4-1 on the season, while Elon improves to 4-2.

In first-half action, the College kept Elon's high-scoring attack in check, as junior Will Smith anchored a stingy W&M backline.  Offensively, the Tribe broke through in the 36th minute after Albiston netted his second goal of the season.  Just right of goal and 20 yards away, the Virginia Beach, Va., native dribbled to his left, and ripped a shot that sailed over Elon sophomore keeper Nathan Dean's outstretched hand.  For the half, the Green and Gold registered seven shots with three coming on frame, while the Phoenix connected on 10 shots with four coming on goal.  Sophomore keeper Bennett Jones preserved the shutout in the opening 45 minutes, collecting four saves.

Early in the second period, W&M generated a pair of scoring opportunities but were unable to extend the advantage.  The College's best look came in the 50th minute, when junior Chris Perez's attempt floated just wide left of frame.   In the 63rd minute, Elon's senior Chris Thomas tied the affair scoring off a through ball from junior Matt Wescoe.

Before the Phoenix gained any traction in overtime, the Tribe recorded three shots as freshman Jackson Eskay's game-winning attempt was turned away by Dean.  With Elon on the move, Thomas created a penalty kick opportunity in the 96th minute and proceeded to connect on the game-winning score.  For the match, Elon narrowly outshot the College, 22-20, and also held a slight edge in shots on goal, 10-7.

The Green and Gold returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 22, as it hosts Northeastern in its Colonial Athletic Association opener.  Saturday's match against the Huskies is slated for a 3 p.m. start.

Tribe Women Host VCU Thursday

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The William and Mary women's soccer team welcomes VCU to Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field on Thursday, Sept. 20, for a match scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.  W&M enters the contest with a 6-2 record and is currently riding a six game winning-streak, while VCU comes to Williamsburg with a mark of 3-2-3.  Fans can follow the action online at TribeAthletics.com with live video and stats.

Courtesy Tribe Athletics

Scouting the Tribe
During its six-match winning streak, the Tribe has outscored the opposition, 14-0.  Having blanked its last six opponents, the College currently ranks third nationally in shutout percentage (0.75).  Additionally, W&M ranks 31st nationally with a goals-against average of 0.611.  In its last outing, the College cruised past Davidson, 3-0, behind senior Mallory Schaffer's sixth and seventh goals of the season and sophomore Emory Camper's first score of the year. Schaffer leads the Tribe with 16 points, coming on seven goals and two assists.  Classmate Cortlyn Bristol has tallied a team-high four assists and two goals, while junior Dani Rutter has netted two goals and one assist.   

Scouting the Rams
Under the direction of co-head coaches Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak and Tim Sahaydak, VCU comes to Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly field with a record of 3-2-3.  Unbeaten in its last four matches, the Rams posted back-to-back 1-0 victories over Pittsburgh and American, while playing UMBC and Villanova to draws.  Sophomore Cristin Granados leads VCU with two goals and one assist, while junior Courtney Conrad has tallied two scores.       

News and Notes:

- All-time, W&M holds an 18-4-2 series lead over VCU.  In its last meeting, the Tribe defeated the Rams, 1-0, in the 2011 CAA Championship game, avenging a loss at VCU earlier in the season.  

-  Senior Mallory Schaffer was named the CAA Player of the Week on Monday after tallying two goals and one assist against Davidson on Sept. 16.  It marked the second time this season and the fourth time of her career that she garnered the weekly distinction. For the year, the Allison Park, Pa., native leads the CAA with seven goals and 16 points.  Nationally, Schaffer ranks 19th in the country in points per game (2.0) and goals per match (0.875), while her seven goals rank 18th.  

- On Tuesday, senior midfielder Mallory Schaffer was named a 2012 Senior CLASS Award candidate.  The reigning CAA Player of the Year was one of 30 NCAA women's soccer players selected as a candidate for the prestigious award, which honors student-athletes who excel both on and off the field.  To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - community, classroom, character and competition.  The 2012 women's Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2012 Women's College Cup, which will be held Nov. 30 through Dec, 2 in San Diego, Calif.   

- Thursday night's match against VCU will be the Tribe's last non-conference contest before opening CAA play on Sunday Sept. 23, against JMU at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field.  Since 2000, the Green and Gold is 8-3-1 in regular season non-conference finales.

Tribe senior Mallory Schaffer CAA Player of the Week

Tribe senior midfielder Mallory Schaffer (Courtesy of TribeAthletics.com)

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - William and Mary women's soccer senior midfielder Mallory Schaffer was named the CAA Player of the Week on Monday afternoon.  Against Davidson, in the Tribe's lone match of the week, the Allison Park, Pa., native scored a pair of goals to go along with an assist.  The accolade marked Schaffer's fourth career CAA Player of the Week distinction and second of the year.

In the match against the Wildcats, the All-American connected on the Tribe's second score of the afternoon when junior Audrey Barry sent a cross from the right endline to the back post, finding Schaffer, who proceeded to punch through her first goal of the contest.  Schaffer struck again in the 45th minute, as she blasted home freshman Nicole Baxter's through ball, giving the Tribe a 3-0 lead at intermission.  Her assist culminated on the Tribe's first tally of the match as she sent a cross to sophomore Emory Camper, who then connected on her first goal of the season.

For the year, Schaffer has registered a CAA-leading seven goals and 16 points.  For her career, the reigning CAA Player of the Year has netted 38 goals, which is tied with Lindsay Nohl '96 for seventh most in school history, while her 89 career points stand at eighth all-time in the Tribe record books.

The Tribe returns to action Thursday, Sept. 20, when it welcomes VCU to Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly in a rematch of last season's CAA Championship game.  The match with the Rams is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff.  Fans can follow the action online at TribeAthletics.com with live video and stats.

Tribe lose close match at No. 2 Creighton

Tribe Sophomore Patrick O'Brien

OMAHA, Neb. - The William and Mary men's soccer team dropped a hard-fought, 2-1, decision on Sunday afternoon at No. 2 Creighton.  W&M struck first when Patrick O'Brien scored his first goal of the season in the 23rd minute.  The Tribe maintained the lead for the next 32 minutes until the Blue Jays tied the affair 10 minutes into the second-half.  Later on in the period, Creighton connected on the game-winner in the 74th minute. The Tribe falls to 2-3-1 on the season, while the Blue Jays improve to 5-1-1.

I'm really proud of the team," stated head coach Chris Norris. "Although we didn't get the result today, we played very well against a good Creighton team. We competed well from the start, were not intimidated by the atmosphere and showed more versatility in our attacking play. This was another game against a top opponent and if we continue to learn from these difficult games and stay positive, we can be a good team."

O'Brien put the College ahead, 1-0, after netting his second career goal off a corner kick from junior Chris Perez in the 23rd minute.  The assist was Perez's first of the season and second of his career.  For the remainder of the half, W&M kept No. 2 Creighton scoreless as sophomore keeper Bennett Jones registered one save in the opening 45-minutes of action.

In the second-half, Creighton managed to tie the affair at 1-1 in the 55th minute, after freshman Timo Pitter bounced home his first score of the season from seven yards away.  Over the next 14 minutes, the Tribe responded, taking five shots with three coming on frame.  During that stretch, Perez fired two shots on goal, while sophomore Marcus Luster tallied one shot on frame.  However, Creighton's freshman goalie Jeff Gal turned away every Tribe advance.  In the 74th minute, Creighton broke the, 1-1, tie after Eric DeJulio netted the game-winner after heading in a CU corner kick.

For the match, the College took 12 shots with seven coming on frame, while Creighton tallied 18 shots, which included four on goal.  At the conclusion of the invitational, Perez and Luster were named to the all-tournament team.  For the weekend, Perez netted a score in the, 4-1, victory over Drake and an assist in Sunday's finale versus Creighton, while Luster capped an impressive tournament connecting on a score in the Tribe's three-goal triumph against Drake.  

The College returns to action on Wednesday, Sept. 19, as it welcomes Elon to Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field.  The match against the Phoenix is slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Tribe Women Shutout Davidson 3-0

Tribe Sophomore Emory Camper | Courtesy TribeAthletics.com

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The William and Mary women's soccer team cruised past Davidson, 3-0, on Sunday afternoon from Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field.  Behind three first-half goals, the College extended its winning-streak to six matches.  Senior Mallory Schaffer led the Tribe offensively, as the Allison Park, Pa., native tallied five points on two goals and one assist.  The shutout is W&M's sixth in a row, and the most since the 1996 squad blanked the opposition in eight consecutive contests.  The victory improves the Tribe's record to 6-2, while Davidson falls 2-4-2.  

In first half action, Sophomore Emory Camper got the Green and Gold on the scoreboard in the 20th minute.  Camper netted her first score of the year just eight yards away in front of box off a ground cross from Schaffer.  The Tribe's second goal came in the 37th minute, after junior Audrey Barry sent a cross from the right baseline to the back post, finding Schaffer, who gave the College the two goal advantage.  W&M broke through again in the 45th minute, when Schaffer blasted home her 38th career score off a through ball from freshman Nicole Baxter.  At intermission, W&M owned a commanding, 3-0 lead over the Wildcats.

Davidson's best chance to score came in the opening moments of the second half.  Sophomore Julie Singley registered the Wildcats first and only attempt on frame just thirty-eight seconds into the half, but was turned away by W&M freshman keeper Caroline Casey.  Singley's attempt went on to be the best look Davidson generated all afternoon, as the Green and Gold's stiflingly defense limited the Wildcats to just three shots, controlling possession and momentum throughout.

For the match, the College outshot Davidson, 18-3, including the edge in shots on goal, 8-1.  Schaffer's two goals were her sixth and seventh of the season, while Barry tallied her second assist of the year.  Baxter's assist in the 45th minute was the Pennington, N.J., native's first career helper.  In all, 24 players saw action for the College on Sunday afternoon which included senior Jackie Blake-Hedges, who registered her first minutes of the year.  

  

W&M returns to action on Thursday, Sept. 20, when it welcomes VCU to Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field.  Kickoff against the Rams is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Tribe men easily beat Drake 4-1

OMAHA, Neb. - The William and Mary men's soccer team opened play in the Creighton Invitational, defeating Drake, 4-1, Friday evening from Morrison Stadium.   Senior Ben Andersonnetted W&M's first score in the 43rd minute before the Tribe tacked on three second-half scores for the decisive three-goal victory.  The win improves the College's record to 2-2-1, while Drake falls to 1-5-1 on the year.

"We are pleased with the performance and with the result tonight", stated head coach Chris Norris.  "We did well to stay patient, take what Drake gave us and capitalize on our opportunities.  We will enjoy it tonight and start preparing for Sunday's match against Creighton."

After generating many scoring opportunities in the opening 45 minutes, the Tribe got on the scoreboard late in the half.  In the 43rd minute, Anderson netted his second goal of the season on a PK.  For the half, the Green and Gold registered 13 shots, with six coming on goal.  Defensively, W&M limited the Bulldogs to seven shot attempts with none coming on frame.

As second-half action got underway, the Tribe wasted little time in going ahead, 2-0.  In the 50th minute, sophomore Marcus Luster's shot was deflected between the posts off of junior Chris Perez's corner kick.  The goal was the second of the year for Luster. 

Freshman Ryan Flesch scored W&M's third goal of the affair in the 57th minute.  From 15 yards away and directly in front of frame, Flesch netted his first collegiate goal off an assist from classmate Jackson Eskay.  The assist was the first in Eskay's career. 

After scoring a goal of his own, Anderson assisted in Perez's score in the 67th minute, as the Annandale, Va., native punched through the Tribe's fourth goal of the contest just eight yards away from net. The goal was the first of the year for Perez, while it marked Anderson's third assist of the season.

With just two minutes remaining in the contest, Drake got on the scoreboard when junior Garrett Crall connected on his first goal of the year.  For the match, the College outshot the Bulldogs, 22-11, and owned the edge in shots on goal, 12-1.

The College returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 16, as it faces No. 2 Creighton in a match scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. (CT) kickoff.  Fans can follow the action online at TribeAthletics.com with live stats.  At a price of $4.99 fans can watch the action live courtesy of GoCreighton.com.  Sunday's match between the Tribe and Bluejay's will be televised locally in Omaha, Neb., on Cox channel 2.

Tribe Senior Mallory Schaffer Soccer America's Team of the Week

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - After netting a score and an assist against Richmond and tallying the game-winner at Auburn, William and Mary senior midfielder Mallory Schaffer was named to Soccer America's National Team of the Week on Thursday.  For her efforts, Schaffer was also named CAA Co-Player of the Week on Sept. 3.

Against the Spiders, Schaffer assisted in junior Dani Rutter's eighth career goal, as the Tribe went ahead 2-0 in the 86th minute.  In the closing moments of the contest, Schaffer connected on her 34th career score, heading in a corner kick from Rutter, as W&M downed Richmond, 3-0.  In the match at Auburn, the Allison Park, Pa., native netted the game-winner on a PK in the 29th minute.  The 2-0 win against the Tigers was the College's seventh triumph over SEC competition and head coach John Daly's 350th career victory.

Through seven matches this season, Schaffer leads the Tribe with 11 points, coming off a team-high five goals and one assist.  She ranks second in the CAA in goals and points, while leading the league in game-winning goals with two. For her career, it's Schaffer's second distinction being named to Soccer America's National Team of the Week.

W&M returns to Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field on Sunday, Sept. 16, in a 2 p.m. clash against Davidson.  Fans can follow the action online at TribeAthletics.com with live video and stats.

Video: Tribe Head Coach Chris Norris Previews Creighton Invitational

William & Mary men's soccer head coach Chris Norris discusses the upcoming Creighton Invitational:

Tribe Freshman Goalkeeper Named CAA Rookie of the Week

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - William and Mary freshman goalkeeper Caroline Casey was honored as the Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week on Monday afternoon.  

Freshman Caroline Casey | Courtesy of TribeAthletics.com

Casey earned the distinction after posting consecutive shutouts over Villanova and Seton Hall at the Villanova Invitational this past weekend.  The Chesapeake, Va., native tallied 10 saves en route to earning all-tournament team accolades. 

Casey has held the opposition scoreless during the last four games.  Through seven contests this season, she has tallied 26 saves and owns a goals against average of 0.75.  Among her highlights this season was a career-high nine-save effort at Tennessee.

[Other William & Mary News on VASoccerNews.com]

The College returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 16, as it welcomes Davidson to Martin-Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field for a 2 p.m. kickoff.  W&M enters the contest against the Wildcats riding a five-game winning streak and has defeated its opponents by a combined score of 11-0.  Fans can follow the action online at TribeAthletics.com with live video and stats.   

Tribe Men Lose 2-1 to No. 12 St. John's

QUEENS, N.Y. - The William and Mary men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision Saturday night to No. 12 St. John's at Belson Stadium.  The College cut the Red Storm lead down to a goal after sophomore Marcus Luster netted his first career score in the 69th minute.  However, the Tribe was unable to tie the match as it fell to 1-2-1 on the year, while St. John's improved to 5-0-1.

   

"We did not have a good first half and I take responsibility", stated head coach Chris Norris.  However, we played our way back into the game in the second half and I am very pleased with the effort and attitude.  Although we are disappointed with the result, I believe that we gained a great deal from this match."

In the early going, sophomore Chris Perez generated a good look on frame, but was turned away by St. John's junior keeper Rafael Diaz in the fourth minute.  Before the first-half ended, the Red Storm managed to score two goals.  Freshman Danny Bedoya netted SJU's first tally in the 39th minute, while senior Jack Bennett scored the Red Storm's second goal on a penalty kick in the 44th minute.

In the second-half, the Green and Gold got on the scoreboard in the 69th minute, as Luster headed in a corner kick from senior Ben Anderson.  It marked Luster's first collegiate goal and points, while it was Anderson's second assist on the season.  For the remainder of the contest, W&M fired three more shots on goal but were denied on each attempt.  Late in the match, Luster launched another header on frame, but this time Diaz made the save in the 87th minute.  The Tribe created two corner opportunities in match's final minute but weren't able to punch through the tying goal.

Although St. John's outshot the Tribe, 18-13, the College owned a 10-5 advantage in the second half.  Sophomore Bennett Jones recorded six saves in 90 minutes of action. 

The Tribe returns to action in the Creighton Invitational on Friday, Sept. 14, against Drake in Omaha, Neb.

Tribe Women Capture 2012 Villanova Invitational Crown

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The William and Mary women's soccer team captured the 2012 Villanova Invitational with a 1-0 victory over Seton Hall on Sunday afternoon from the Villanova Soccer Complex.  Freshman Nicole Baxter connected on the game-winner in the 37th minute off an assist from senior Cortlyn Bristol.  Seniors Mallory Schaffer, Cortlyn Bristol and Kiersten Harpe along with freshman keeper Caroline Casey earned all-tournament team accolades.  With its fifth-straight victory, the Tribe improved its record to 5-2 on the year, while Seton Hall falls to 5-3.

"We showed a lot of character", stated head coach John Daly.  "Our defending was superb and our work rate immense. The goal came from a tremendous bout of inter passing. Cortlyn (Bristol) got to the end line and crossed for Nicole (Baxter) to slide the ball home.  Caroline (Casey) was rarely troubled thanks to the great work by our defense.  Seton Hall started the second-half strong, but we made some adjustments en route to a good win."

In the opening half, Baxter netted her first collegiate goal after punching through a cross from Bristol in the 37th minute, giving the Green and Gold an 1-0 advantage.  It was Bristol's fourth assist and eighth point of the year. For the period, W&M registered 10 shots with five coming on frame, while Casey kept the Pirates scoreless with three saves.

Seton Hall started the second-half with urgency, firing four shots in the opening five minutes of action.  However, Casey did not budge, as the Chesapeake, Va., native turned back Pirate attacks in the 67th and 70th minutes.  A stout defensive performance aided Casey as the College tallied its fifth consecutive victory and its fifth-straight shutout. 

For the match, the Tribe recorded 13 shots with seven coming on frame, while the Pirates generated 15 shot attempts with six threatening goal.  W&M held the advantage in corner kicks, 4-3.  Casey played all 90 minutes between the posts, recording six saves on her way to making all-tournament team honors.

The College returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 16, at home against Davidson.  The match with the Wildcats is slated for a 2 p.m. start at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field.  Fans can follow along online at TribeAthletics.com with live video streaming and stats.

Schaffer leads Tribe women to shutout over Villanova 1-0

VILLANOVA, Pa. - The William and Mary women's soccer team recorded its fourth-straight victory with a 1-0 triumph at Villanova on Friday morning.  Senior Mallory Schaffer provided the game-winner off an assist from classmate Cortlyn Bristol in the 80th minute. The win improves the College's record to 4-2, while Villanova falls to 1-4-2.

Tribe Senior Mallory Schaffer | Courtesy TribeAthletics.com

"It was a really good win for us", head coach John Daly said.  "We generated some good chances in the first-half, but our cohesion wasn't what we would like it to be.  Caroline (Casey) made a great save late in the half, keeping them scoreless.  In the second-half, we started much better and jumped out to a good start. Mallory's (Schaffer) goal was brilliant - she spun off a defender, receiving a great pass from Cortlyn (Bristol) for the game-winner."

In the opening half, both squads threatened with scoring chances but were unable to get on the board.  Senior Erin Liberatore generated a good look on frame in the 12th minute, but was turned away by Villanova senior keeper Kelsey Quinn.  Minutes later, W&M freshman goalie Carolina Casey denied Nova's first attempt on frame.  For the remainder of the half, junior Dani Rutter and freshman Leci Irvin generated shots on goal that resulted in Villanova saves.  Casey held the Wildcats scoreless through the opening 45 minutes, as she recorded three saves.

Taking control of the flow, the Tribe began second-half action firing off four shots before the Wildcats managed to take one.  Bristol recorded two of the attempts, while Schaffer's shot hit the crossbar.  After generating multiple quality looks, W&M hit pay dirt in the 80th minute when Schaffer netted Bristol's feed for the game-winning score. The goal marked Schaffer's fifth of the season and the 13th game-winner of her career. 

Although Villanova held a narrow 16-15 edge in shots, W&M owned a 10-7 advantage in the second half. For the year, W&M continued its strong second-period play, as it has now outscored its opponents, 7-0, following the intermission.    

The Tribe returns to action Sunday, Sept. 9, against Seton Hall in a contest slated to start at 1:30 p.m. at Villanova's Soccer Complex.  Fans can follow the action online at TribeAthletics.com with live stats.

2012 Women's Soccer: Villanova and Seton Hall Preview

In this video Head Coach John Daly previews this weekends Tribe women's soccer matches against Villanova and Seton Hall.

Tribe Men lose 2-0 to VCU

Tribe Men's Soccer Falls at VCU

Midfielder Chris Perez, Courtesy TribeAthletics.com 

Richmond, Va. - The William and Mary men's soccer team fell at VCU, 2-0, Sunday night from Sports Backers Stadium. Even though the College held the advantage in shots, shots on goal and corner kicks, it was unable to put through multiple scoring opportunities on the evening.  The Tribe falls to 0-1-1 on the year, while VCU improves to 1-0-1 on the season.

"Although we are disappointed with the result, we are happy with the performance," stated head coach Chris Norris. "We were much bolder tonight in terms of our attacking choices and our execution was better in the second half. I really like this group and as long as we can keep an even keel and focus on our performance, we will be fine."

In first half action, W&M threatened early, but didn't capitalize on its early chances.  With in the fist 10 minutes of action, W&M took two corner kicks and recorded a shot on frame.  However, it was the Rams who struck first with a goal from freshman Devon Fisher in the fourth minute.  For the rest of the half, the Green and Gold pushed the issue, taking five shots, three of which coming on goal, but the half ended with VCU leading, 1-0.  For the half, W&M's sophomore Marcus Luster registered two shots on frame coming in the 16th and the 24th minutes.

As the second half started, the College was on the verge of tying the affair at, 1-1.   Junior Roshan Patel got a good look on frame in the 46th minute, but his shot sailed just high of goal.  Minutes later, junior Will Smith had his shot on frame deflected, and in the 54th minute sophomore Chris Albiston fired a shot that was narrowly wide of goal.  For the remainder of the dispute, the Tribe took three more shots on goal but were turned away each time.  The Rams added an insurance goal late in the 88th minute.

Sophomore Bennett Jones played all 90 minutes in frame for the College, tallying four saves on the night.

For the match, the College outshot VCU, 18-13.  W&M also owned the advantage in shots on goal, 7-6, and corner kicks, 6-3.  

The College returns to action Saturday, Sept. 1, as it plays host to Richmond at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field in a 7 p.m. affair.  For all the latest on Tribe soccer go to TribeAthletics.com. 

Tribe Begin Season with 0-0 Draw against Butler

Courtesy TribeAthletics.com

RICHMOND, Va. - The William and Mary men's soccer team opened the 2012 season in the VCU Invitational playing Butler to a, 0-0, tie Friday night at the Sports Backers Stadium in Richmond, Va.  In only his second collegiate start, sophomore goalkeeper Bennett Jones registered seven saves en route to posting his first career shutout.  As a result of controlling possession for most of the match, W&M generated quality-scoring opportunities, but was unable to net any scores.

"It looked like an early season game," stated Tribe head coach Chris Norris. "However, I was happy with the amount of possession we generated and our ideas were good.  You have to give Butler a lot of credit, they are an athletic and hardworking team. Tonight was a match between two solid teams that have the chance to be good."

In the early going, the College generated a pair of scoring chances with two shots on goal, both coming from junior Roshan Patel, in the opening five minutes of action.  The Green and Gold controlled possession for the majority of the opening half, as it totaled six shots in the initial 45 minutes.  Although Butler put four shots on goal in the first frame, Jones came up with big four stops and kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard.

In the second half, the Green and Gold had scoring opportunities.  The Tribe's best chance came in the 84th minute when freshman Jackson Eskay fired a shot on frame that was saved by Butler's junior keeper Jon Dawson.  Four minutes later, the College engineered another good look when Patel sent a rocket toward goal, but a Butler defender blocked the shot before it approached the posts.  As he did in the first-half, Jones kept Butler scoreless, tallying three stops in last 45 minutes.

Just three minutes into the first overtime, sophomore Marcus Luster fired a shot on frame that was saved by Dawson.  The Tribe deflected the Bulldogs only shot in the first extra period as it controlled possession throughout.

In the second overtime period, the College tallied a shot on goal, to go along with two shots and two corner kicks.  W&M's best look came in the 109th minute off of a Patel corner kick.

For the match, the Green and Gold held the advantage over the Bulldogs in shots 17-16.  The Tribe also edged Butler in corners, 6-4, and saves, 7-5.

Tribe soccer returns to action Sunday, Aug. 26, against former CAA foe VCU.  Kickoff from Sports Backers Stadium in Richmond, Va., is slated for 7:30 p.m.  Fans can follow along at TribeAthletics.com with live stats as well as via the VCUAthletics.com live video stream.