Coming into the 2022 season, the William and Mary field hockey team did not expect to be dominant, especially after a 3-13 finish in 2021 capped off with an early exit from the CAA tournament. Successful? Maybe. Improved? Definitely.
Through seven games the Tribe Field Hockey team sits at 5-2 on the season, with a remarkable three wins over ranked opponents on the year. With victories over #19 Old Dominion, #6 Liberty, and #16 Duke, the Tribe is poised for yet another strong season after last year left little to be desired.
But success is nothing new for Head Coach Tess Ellis’ squad. In 2019, the Green and Gold finished the year ranked 23rd in the nation and in 2018 the Tribe made the NCAA tournament Opening Round and advanced to the First Round with a win over Monmouth before ultimately falling to #1 ranked North Carolina. So what is the secret to one of the most successful women’s sports at the College? Let’s find out.
This team is full of stars across the field. Six players were recently named to the NFHCA Watch List, including Aidan Rossman, Lauren Curran, Audrey Domovich, Maddie George, Jayden Moon, and Pyper Friedman. The list recognizes athletes from all three divisions of the NCAA.
Lauren Curran leads the team with five goals on the season, while Allison Goodwin and Sally Snead each have two goals on the year. Junior Goalkeeper Maddie George has played incredibly well all season, with 44 saves on the year. She also ranks fifth in the NATION in save percentage on the year.
But it has been a full-fledged team effort this year throughout all three of the Tribe’s victories over ranked opponents. William and Mary opened the year against 19th-ranked Old Dominion at home on August 26th, Seniors Lauren Curran and Sally Snead scored goals in regulation, as the Tribe forced overtime against the Monarchs. Junior Allison Goodwin was the hero however, with the game-winner in overtime.
The Tribe then traveled to #6-ranked Liberty, where the teams remained scoreless for the entire game, until senior defender Ireland Miller scored on a penalty stroke in the first overtime to give the Tribe the upset victory over the Flames.
In its third matchup against a ranked opponent on the year, William and Mary traveled to Durham, North Carolina to face the #16-ranked Duke Blue Devils. Allison Goodwin scored yet another game winner, with a third quarter goal to top the Blue Devils 2-1.
The Tribe is currently ranked 16th in the nation, the highest mark since 2004, when the Green and Gold finished 13-7. Tess Ellis’ squad is in the midst of a tough weekend, with two ranked opponents in James Madison and UConn. The Tribe fell to their former CAA foe JMU on Friday evening 1-0, but will look to right the ship tomorrow morning at 11 am against the #11 ranked Huskies. The game will be broadcast on FloLive for those that cannot make it out to Busch Field to cheer on the Tribe as they search for their fourth win over a ranked opponent on the year. LET’S GO TRIBE
The William and Mary Sports Blog 