WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The William and Mary field hockey team twice led #11 Louisville on Sunday afternoon, but could not hang on in falling to the Cardinals, 4-3, in overtime at Busch Field. Freshman Emma MacLeod, senior Navneet Singh and junior Pippin Saunders each found the back of the cage for the Green and Gold. W&M fell to 1-5 on the year, while Louisville, who was coming off a double OT loss to nationally-ranked Virginia, improved to 5-1. 

The Tribe jumped on top with a goal in the 19th minute off a penalty corner. Sophomore Maria Pastor penetrated the area and drew the corner, before senior Brittany Hopkins sent a hard shot on frame from the top of the circle. The attempt was blocked by U of L goalkeeper Sydney King, but MacLeod was there to poke home the rebound, putting the Tribe on top with her first collegiate goal.

In the 28th minute, Louisville nearly evened the game, but freshman defender Booter Ellis made a defensive save to keep the visitors off the scoreboard. Cardinals reserve Stephanie Byrne made steal in the Tribe's defensive half and carried the ball into the area. Tribe goalkeeper Meredith Savage came off her line to cut off the angle, but Byrne was able to send the ball toward the cage only to have Ellis there to knock it wide.

Just seven minutes into the second half, Louisville pulled even off a penalty corner. Alyssa Voelmle scored on a hard shot from the top of the circle with Elisa Garcia and Megan Anstotz registering assists.

The Tribe regained its advantage in the 48th minute thanks to a penalty stroke. Saunders used some fancy stick work to move into the penalty area. As she touched around the goalkeeper, King pulled down Saunders, resulting in the stroke. Singh stepped to the spot and completely fooled the goalkeeper to convert the penalty stroke. It marked Singh's second career goal, both off penalty strokes, and gave W&M the 2-1 advantage.

Three minutes later, Louisville tied the game at two on a penalty stroke of their own. Hailey Netherton took the initial shot of the sequence and it was stopped by Savage, but the referee whistled for a stroke after the ball was stuck under the Tribe goalkeeper. Mallory Mason converted the penalty stroke to tie the game for the second time in the half.

The Cardinals took their first lead of the game, 3-2, at the 61:34 mark with another goal off a penalty corner. Voelmle scored her second goal of the afternoon off a direct shot from the top of the area, while Mason and Anstotz picked up assists.

Less than a minute later, the Green and Gold answered on Saunders' second goal of the season. The junior forward broke free down the center of the field, dribbled around the Louisville goalkeeper and scored to the center of the game, knotting the game at three. It marked the second straight game in which Saunders found the back of the cage. The goal also brought her career total to 17 and her career point total to 50.

The Cardinals controlled the overtime period, taking all three shots of the frame, before finding the game-winner with 3:44 left in the first extra period. Garcia played the ball to Nicole Woods in the penalty area, and the Cardinals' attacker was able to scored into the left side boards to give the visitors the victory.

After the Tribe held a 6-4 advantage in shots at the half, Louisville ended up outshooting the Green and Gold, 15-9, on the afternoon and had a 5-3 cushion in penalty corners. Savage finished with four saves in goal for W&M, while King recorded five stops for the Cardinals.  

W&M continues its homestand next weekend with two matches at Busch Field. The Tribe host Hampton Roads rival Old Dominion at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, before concluding the weekend with a Sunday, Sept. 21, match against Duke at 1 p.m.