WILMINGTON, N.C. – The William and Mary women's soccer team netted a pair of first half goals, and rode the momentum to a 2-0 victory over UNCW on Friday night in Wilmington, N.C. Junior Samantha Cordum and senior Emily Fredrikson each registered goals for the Green and Gold. With the win, the Tribe improves to 8-2-1, 2-1-0 in CAA play, while the Seahawks fall to 5-6-1, 0-3-0 in CAA play.
W&M wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as they scored on their first shot just five minutes into the match. Junior Caroline Casey sent a pass to midfield where she played Cordum free. From 16 yards out on the right flank, the Boise, Idaho native uncorked a shot into the back of the goal. Her seventh goal of the season gave the Tribe an early 1-0 lead.
The Tribe continued its pressure after the goal with a pair of shots. Freshman Rachel Moore pushed a shot just wide of the goal in the 17th minute. Cordum nearly missed her second goal of the night moments later, when she had her shot stopped by UNCW keeper Liisa Rahkola.
UNCW's lone shot of the first half came in the 21st minute. Off of a corner kick sent in by Kennedy Ulrich, Lindsey Byrne got a foot on the ball, and fired it on target. However, Casey was there for her first save of the match.
W&M extended its lead with a goal in the 41st minute of the match. Off of a corner kick sent in by freshman Adrienne Maday that was briefly cleared by the Seahawk keeper. The ball deflected over to Fredrikson, who placed her shot into the back of the net. The Ashburn, Virginia native's first career goal gave the Tribe a 2-0 lead.
The Seahawks had the first chance of the second half. In the 56th minute, Katrina Guillou fired a shot, but a Tribe defender step in front to block it. W&M was able to control the deflection and avoid any harm.
Wilmington just missed a chance to pull one back in the in the 72nd minute. Byrne rocketed a shot off of the cross bar, just missing the goal. The rebound deflected right back to her, but she pushed her second shot high.
W&M just missed out on its third goal of the night in the 84th minute. From the left side junior Barbara Platenberg sent a cross into the box that found Cordum. Cordum fired a shot towards the goal, but it sailed just high.
UNCW continued to mount its attack throughout the final six minutes of the match. In the 85th minute Morgan Leyble put one on target, but again Casey stood strong, making the save.
Despite only firing one shot in the second half, W&M still out shot the Seahawks 9-6 in the match, including a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal. Moore and Cordum each finished a match-high three shots.
Casey recorded a pair saves in her fourth shutout of the season. It was the 18th shutout of her career, putting her just four shutouts away from the top five in career shutouts. The Tribe has allowed only two goals in the last six matches or the 540 minutes of play. Thanks to that stretch Casey has lowered her goals-against-average to 0.98.
The Tribe concludes its southern CAA tour when they travel to the College of Charleston on Sunday, Oct. 5. Kickoff for the matinee is set for 1 p.m.
