WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Five different Tribe players scored as the William and Mary field hockey team dominated Radford, 5-0, on Friday night in its season opener at Busch Field. Playing its first game under the direction of long-time assistant and newly-minted head coach Tess Ellis, the Green and Gold took a 1-0 halftime lead, before cashing in four second-half tallies to cruise to the victory.

In total, seven players totaled at least a point in the Tribe victory as sophomore Pippin Saunders led the Green and Gold with a goal and two assists. Senior Taylor Hodge, who had a game-high five shots, tallied a goal and an assist in the triumph. The four points for Saunders tied a career-high, while it also marked the first career three-point match for Hodge.

W&M jumped on top, 1-0, with a goal off a penalty corner in the 16th minute of action. With Saunders inserting, senior Chaney Manganello stick-stopped for sophomore Esty Byrd who flicked a shot over the top of Radford goalkeeper Sidney Encarnacion. It marked the first goal of Byrd's Tribe career and went for the game-winner.

Radford found itself fortunate to be down just a goal following the opening 35 minutes of play. W&M outshot the Highlanders, 13-0, in the first period and had seven penalty corners to zero for RU. The Green and Gold pressure forced Radford to make eight total saves, including three defensive saves.

Less than two minutes into the second half, the Tribe upped its lead to 2-0 on a penalty-stroke goal. A pass forward by senior Giovanna Golen to junior Brittany Hopkins generated the penalty stroke opportunity. Redshirt junior Navneet Singh stepped to the spot and converted for her first career goal at the 36:57 mark.

Hodge and Saunders combined on back-to-back goals for the Green and Gold to put the contest out of reach. First it was Saunders feeding Hodge at the backpost for a goal in the 42nd minute. In the 64th minute, Hodge returned the favor dishing to Saunders at the near post off a penalty corner, extending the margin to 4-0.

Junior Kayleigh Ross capped the Green and Gold scoring with her fourth career goal in the 65th minute. Freshman Olivia Hajek dumped the ball to Ross in the left side of the area, and the McLean, Va., native popped the ball over the top of the RU goalkeeper, increasing the Tribe lead to its final margin of 5-0.

The Tribe finished the contest outshooting Radford 22-2, and held a decisive 12-0 advantage in penalty corners. Sophomores Cate Johnson and Meredith Savage split halves in goal but were not called upon to make a save for the Green and Gold. Encarnacion finished with nine saves in cage for the Highlanders, and RU's Jennifer Hedrick, Alayna Versage and Ava Merzadegan eached collected a defensive save.

W&M returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 1, when it hosts the VCU Rams at Busch Field. The contest is slated for a 1 p.m. start time and live stats will be available on TribeAthletics.com.