FAIRFAX, Va. – Junior Leci Irvin tallied the golden goal in the 96th minute, as the William and Mary women's soccer team picked up a season opening victory at George Mason on Sunday night. After a scoreless 90 minutes, the Tribe scored just six minutes into the overtime frame. With the victory the Tribe improved to 1-0 on the young season, while the Patriots fell to 0-2.
After an early William and Mary shot on goal by junior Barbara Platenberg, George Mason had a couple of chances in the first stages of the match. Off of a corner kick, Sarah Hardison sent a header shot towards frame that was blocked by a Tribe defender. Moments later, Brenna Connell put a shot on frame, but junior goalkeeper Caroline Casey was there for the stop.
The Tribe attack put some pressure on George Mason towards the end of the first half. Senior Emory Camper had a shot go just wide of the cage to start the threat. In the 37th minute, Irvin pushed a shot on target that was saved by the Mason keeper.
At the break, the match remained scoreless. W&M held a 6-4 advantage in shots, while shots on goal were knotted at 2-2.
W&M fired the first three shots of the second half. In the opening minutes, junior Katie Johnston sent a header wide of the goal, and then in the 57th she fired a shot just wide of the net. Freshman Sami Grasso then found space and fired a shot high in the 65th minute.
Mason turned its pressure up in the final minutes of regulation, firing three shots. Emma Starr fired the first shot of the half for the Patriots in the 84th minute, missing high. A minute later, Abby Downey pushed a shot wide. The final shot of the rally came from Starr, which went wide.
The Green and Gold took the only two shots of the overtime frame. Senior Samantha Cordum fired a shot three minutes in, which missed wide. Then in the 96th minute, freshman Rachel Moore found Irvin, who fired a shot across the face of the goal and into the back of the net. The tally, which was the first career goal for Irvin and first career point for Moore, lifted the Tribe to a 1-0 win.
Casey finished the match, recording her first shutout of the season. She made two saves in her first victory of the season. The Tribe outshot the Patriots 12-8, including a 3-2 advantage on shots goal. Grasso led the team with three shots.
W&M continues its three-game season opening road trip with a match at Maryland on Thursday, Aug. 28. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The road trip concludes at George Washington on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 5 p.m.
