WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Senior Aly Shaughnessy and junior Samantha Cordum each recorded their first multi-goal games of their career, as the William and Mary women's soccer team cruised past in-state rival Richmond, 4-1, at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field on Wednesday night. Cordum tallied the game-winner and the exclamation point, while Shaughnessy scored the first and third goals of the evening. With the win, the Tribe moves its record to 3-1-1, while the Spiders fall to 3-3-0.
W&M wasted little time getting things going in the match as they got on the board first with a marker in just the ninth minute. Senior Emory Camper sent a shot towards target that hit off the post and bounced to the foot of freshman Sami Grasso. Grasso sent a cross to the middle of the box, where she found Shaughnessy. The senior collected the ball and buried into the top left corner of the goal. The first goal of the season for Shaughnessy gave the Tribe a 1-0 lead.
The Green and Gold was able to double its lead right before the half. The Tribe mounted pressure in its attacking third, but it looked as if Richmond was going to be able to clear. However, Cordum had other plans and stole the ball from a Richmond defender. In a one-versus-one with the goalie, the Boise, Idaho native fired a shot across the mouth of the goal and into the top left corner. Cordum's first goal of the season doubled the Tribe's lead, making the score 2-0.
Although the Tribe held a 2-0 lead at the break, they had just one more shot then Richmond (8-7). The Spiders even held a 3-2 advantage in shots on goal.
Richmond was able to bring the deficit back to one when they scored in the 65th minute. Off of a short corner, the ball was played back to Shannon Colligan, who sent a cross into the box. The ball found the head of Samantha Cicconi, who directed into the right side of the net. The tally cut the Green and Gold's lead to 2-1.
After the goal, the Tribe rallied back and added two more goals before the final whistle. Freshman Haley Kent flicked a pass to sophomore Haley Kavanaugh who was on the right side of the pitch. Kavanaugh sent a cross across the face of the goal that found Shaughnessy, who rocketed the ball into the back of the net. The second tally of the night for the Haymarket, Virginia native gave the Tribe a 3-1 advantage.
Cordum put the finishing touches on the victory with a tally in the 81st minute. Much like the first goal she scored, Cordum created he second goal of the night all by herself. Off of a turnover, she charged the box and placed her shot into the right side of the goal.
Although the difference in score, the match was played pretty even in terms of shots. The shots were tied 14-14, while the Tribe held a slight 6-5 advantage in shots on goal. Junior goalkeeper Caroline Casey made four stops in her third victory of the season. Cordum finished the match with a game-high five shots, including three on frame. Grasso, Camper, Kent, and Kavanaugh all picked up a point with assists in the match. Kent's assist was her first career point.
The Green and Gold hit the road for a quick two-match road trip starting on Sunday, Sept. 14 at Penn. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. W&M then travels to Davidson on Thursday, Sept. 18 for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
