WILLIAMSBURG - On an unseasonably warm but gorgeous afternoon at Busch Field Sunday, the William and Mary field hockey team put up a spirited effort before ultimately falling to Virginia Commonwealth, 4-1. The Tribe nows stands at 4-13 overall and 2-5 in the Colonial Athletic Association, while VCU improves to 13-5, 5-2 in league play.

Box Score

The Tribe put up a superb defensive effort on the afternoon, limiting the Rams to just four goals despite 22 chances. Sophomore Elizabeth Frey (Virginia Beach, Va.) made nine stops, and senior Erica Eng (Morristown, N.J.) swatted one out of the air in the 62nd minute for her second defensive save of the season. While it didn't show up in the box score, senior Danielle Scissom (Virginia Beach, Va.) had the play of the day with just over three minutes remaining. VCU sent the ball on a long breakaway through the back line, and Scissom chased down the attacking player and made a diving swipe to poke the ball away at the top of the circle, giving up a penalty corner but preventing the easy score.

The match was very physical with five cards issued, including two yellows for VCU and one for W&M. Both of the Rams' cards overlapped for a crucial 40-second window early in the second half, giving the College a two-player advantage in the field. In that span, the Tribe was able to wrest control and after it had run-out, with the home team still up one player, the Tribe earned a pair of penalty corner opportunities. On the second, senior Jenna Cinalli (Fredericksburg, Va.) scored her first goal of the season and 17th of her career to tie the score at 1-1. Cinalli began the corner with an insert to Eng, who passed the ball over to sophomore Maria Caro (Martinsville, N.J.) for a shot from the top. Caro's look was blocked in front of the goal, but Cinalli was there to scoop the rebound and blast a shot into the boards on the far side.

The Tribe will return to action next Sunday, October 31st, for a 1 p.m. match-up with Old Dominion on Senior Day.