BY: Lily Mihok
After a road win against NC State to close out non-conference play, William & Mary Women’s Soccer is heading into conference play with a 5-3 record, riding high off their first victory against an ACC team since 2016. Head coach Julie Shackford, now in her eighth year with the Tribe, has one ultimate goal in mind: winning the CAA.
Coming off a 9-4-7 record in the 2023 season and a semifinals appearance in the CAA, the Tribe boasts a strong roster of players, including a Preseason All-CAA award for forward Ivey Crain (Junior) and honorable mentions for defenders Nicole Sellers (Grad student) and Molly Widderich (Sophomore).
With a freshman class of ten, and the addition of assistant coach Zoe Doughty — an alum and former goalkeeper for the Tribe — and undergraduate assistant coach Caden Fong, a former goalkeeper for the Men’s team, the Tribe is ready to battle its way back to the CAA championships.
The Tribe opened the 2024 season strong with a 5-1 exhibition win against Longwood, followed by back-to-back losses to Radford and ODU. However, the Tribe rarely lets defeat hold them back and bounced back after ODU with four consecutive wins.
These included scoring two goals in the last six minutes to clinch a 2-1 victory over long-time rival VCU and an emphatic six-goal performance in a 6-0 win over Temple. In non-conference play, the Tribe boasts nine different goal scorers, with Peyton Costello (Freshman) and Leah Iglesias (Senior) each tallying three goals.
Shackford says the team’s momentum over the past five games has been promising and is exactly what they need heading into CAA play. Despite the final score, Shackford says even the second half of the ODU game showed a shift for the Tribe; Costello and Kenley Campbell (Freshman) both came off the bench and helped W&M regain control with “not only their ability with the ball, but their competitiveness, grit, strength, and athletic ability.”
Shackford also highlighted the leadership of starters Mia Suchora (Senior) and Iglesias. Suchora keeps the midfield on lockdown, and the team feeds off Iglesias’s energy and mentality — she treats every play as a chance. Several other players were noted as game changers — players who can come off the bench and make an impact.
The tone of the game relies on selfless players like Leila Greene (Junior); no matter her role, she comes in and “gets the job done.” The Tribe bench, thirty-five deep, is full of players ready to step up, whether the team is down by two or up by six.
After holding their own against Princeton — a game they fought until the final whistle, with a score line that didn’t truly reflect the Tribe’s performance — and the team’s road win against NC State, Shackford believes they have proven they can compete with anyone.
The Tribe’s possession play, ability to build from the back, and communication and energy both on and off the bench make them a formidable opponent. Shackford looks forward to tough competition in conference play and is hopeful for a title for the Green and Gold to cap off the season.
Go Tribe today against Hampton!
The William & Mary Sports Blog 