Williamsburg - On the strength of two goals off penalty corners, the William and Mary field hockey team upset James Madison, 2-1, on Homecoming Friday night at Busch Field. Senior forward Mikala Savaides scored the game-winner off a rebound with seven minutes remaining to give the College its first win over the Dukes since 2005. W&M kept its CAA Tournament hopes alive, improving to 4-12 overall and 2-4 in league play, while JMU, who entered the game receiving votes in the national poll, fell to 8-9 on the year and 3-3 in CAA action.

Box Score



The Dukes lit up the scoreboard first with a goal in 17th minute of play. JMU's Amy Daniel centered as pass to Dolores de Rooij from the right side, and de Rooij finished into the right-side boards from straight away. It was de Rooij's 10th goal of the season and Daniel's eighth assist.

W&M answered just before halftime, cashing in a penalty corner chance at the 32:16 mark. Scissom's initial attempt from the top of circle was blocked by a JMU defender, but the Tribe senior jumped on the rebound. This time, no one could stop her chance as it found the left-side boards from straight away. It marked Scissom's second tally of the season and of her collegiate career.

The better of chances in the early part of the second half would go to the Tribe, but neither squad could find the scoring column. Sophomore Ashley Kyle had a shot from in close a minute into the second half stopped by JMU goalkeeper Stephanie Tarafas.

In the 41st minute, the Dukes almost tallied their second goal of the match. Daniel ripped a shot from the left side of the area that clanged off the left post. Just over a minute later, W&M had two chances off a penalty corner. On the first, W&M worked the ball back to senior Jenna Cinalli, who had inserted the corner and she lifted a shot on frame that was blocked down by the pad of the JMU goalkeeper. Kyle bounced on the rebound, but her look went wide of the far post.

The game winner came with just over seven minutes remaining as the College scored a similar goal to its first. Kyle earned the corner with some stick work along the left end line. Off the penalty corner, Scissom took the initial shot from the top of the circle, but the James Madison goalkeeper made the kick save. The rebound fell to Savaides, and she finished into the left-side boards for her first career game-winning goal. It marked the 10th tally of Savaides' career and her team-leading third on the season.

The Dukes pressed for the equalizer over the final five minutes, but came up empty. In the 66th minute, JMU worked the ball to Daniels along the left side of the circle off a penalty corner, but W&M goalkeeper Elizabeth Frey made a kick save on the shot toward the far post.

With just under two minutes left, a JMU midfielder sent the ball into the middle of the area from a long way out. As it entered the circle, the ball caught a deflection, and, fortunately for the Tribe, bounced off the left post before being cleared out of danger.

For the game, JMU held a 9-7 advantage in the shot column, including a 5-3 cushion in chances on frame. Scissom topped the Green and Gold with three shots, all off penalty corners. Both teams generated four corners on the evening, while Frey made two saves in recording her second collegiate win between the pipes.

W&M returns to action when it hosts CAA foe VCU on Sunday, Oct. 24. The contest with the Rams carries a 1 p.m. start at Busch Field.