WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary women's soccer team looks to continue its strong start as it host two games over its home opening weekend. The Tribe plays host to Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday, Aug. 24, before welcoming Bucknell on Sunday, Aug. 27. Kickoffs are slated for 7 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.
As part of TribeAthletics.com five-part series, check out the 'It's Time' feature for women's soccer, by clicking
HERE. #ItsTime
TribeAthletics.com caught up with head women's soccer coach
John Daly to discuss the two wins last weekend,
Erin Dailey winning CAA Rookie of the Week, and its upcoming games with Fairleigh Dickinson and Bucknell. The video feature is available through the above link or by clicking
here.
Scouting the Tribe
W&M (2-0), which received 18 votes in the United Soccer Coach (formerly NSCAA) Top 25 Poll, looks to keep building on its season opening winning streak as they welcome Fairleigh Dickinson and Bucknell to Albert-Daly Field this weekend. The Tribe topped Providence (2-0) and Boston College (3-1) in the Fairfield Inn by Marriot JMU Invite last weekend. Offensively, the Green and Gold scored five times last weekend, all by different players. Senior
Sami Grasso and redshirt sophomore
Sarah Segan lead the team with a goal, assist, and three points. Senior
Samantha Johnson and sophomore
Katelyn Briguglio spilt time in goal last weekend. Johnson recorded the win against Providence making a save and not allowing a goal. Briguglio played 145 minutes, making five saves, and posting a 0.62 goals-against-average.
Scouting the Knights
Fairleigh Dickinson (1-1-0) looks to move its winning streak to two games as they head to Williamsburg on Thursday night. The Knights split games last weekend, falling to Temple 3-2 in overtime, before topping Hartford 3-1 on Sunday. Viktorija Miseljic leads FDU with three goals and six points through the first two games. Daria Jones is second on the team in points with one goal, an assist, and three points. Amanda Fitzgerald has played every minute so far this season for the Knights. She owns a 1.97 goals-against average and 14 saves.
Scouting the Bison
Bucknell enters the weekend in search of its first win of the 2017 season. The Bison lost matches to Syracuse (0-2) and Saint Joseph's (2-3) last weekend, and will square off with No. 12 Duke on Friday night. Meghan Holtz and Jenna Marek have scored Bucknell's goals this season, while Ali Russo has added an assist. Dani Kaufman has started both games in goal, has 21 saves, and a 2.50 goals-against-average.
Series History vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
Thursday's meeting with Fairleigh Dickinson will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs. It is the only time during the 2017 season, that the Tribe will play a team for the first time.
Series History vs. Bucknell
The Green and Gold meet Bucknell for just the second time in series history on Sunday afternoon. The Tribe leads the all-time series 1-0, but the only other meeting came in 1992. W&M picked up a 9-0 victory in the match.
What's Ahead
After this weekend's action, W&M will play a split weekend next week. The Tribe hits the road for match at in-state rival Virginia Tech on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. The Green and Gold returns home as they play 2016 NCAA Tournament participant Wisconsin on Sept. 3 at 2 p.m.
Weekly Awards
Freshman
Erin Dailey took home the first W&M weekly award of the season by being named the CAA Rookie of the Week for the week of Aug. 21. The freshman scored the game-winning goal against Providence, earned a pair of starts, and played 131 minutes in the midfield in the Tribe's win over Providence and Boston College.
Everyone's Involved
The Tribe offense scored five times in its two victories last weekend, and all five goals were scored by different players. Freshman
Erin Dailey, senior
Elysse Branton, redshirt, sophomore
Sarah Segan, senior
Rachel Moore, and senior
Sami Grasso all scored last weekend.
Strong Start
William & Mary opens the season 2-0 for the second time in three years. The 2015 women's soccer team opened the season with a pair of wins in the Fairfield Inn by Marriot JMU Invite as well. The last time the Tribe started 3-0 was also in 2015.
Segan Scores Early, Often
Redshirt sophomore
Sarah Segan continued her trend of scoring in the first half last weekend. W&M's returning leading scoring has scored 10 of her 11 career goals in the game's opening 45 minutes.
We Want Moore
Senior
Rachel Moore has been named to an All-CAA team following each of the her three previous seasons. An All-CAA Preseason selection, she has scored a goal for two points this season. Moore has appeared in 61 games (most active) with 59 starts. Moore has notched 15 goals, 12 assists, and 42 points.
Slated for Second
The William & Mary women's soccer team was selected to finish second in the CAA in the 2017 CAA Preseason Poll voted on by the league's 10 head coaches. Defending champion Northeastern was selected to repeat, while Drexel and James Madison were selected in a tie for third, Hofstra (fifth), UNCW (sixth), College of Charleston (seventh), Delaware (tied for eighth), Elon (tied for eighth), and Towson (10th) rounded out the poll behind the Tribe.
Five for Fighting
The Green and Gold was well represented in the league's preseason all-conference awards, receiving a CAA-high five honorees. Seniors
Elysse Branton and
Rachel Moore as well as sophomore
Sarah Segan highlighted the awards with 2017 Preseason All-CAA honors, while senior
Haley Kent and junior
Mackenzie Kober earned honorable mention citations.
Familiar Faces
The Tribe welcomes back 21 players from last season's roster and including a good bulk of its scoring. W&M returns 80-percent of its goals and 90.5-percent of its points scorers from last year. The Tribe also returns its top five point scorers from last season.
Fresh Faces
Despite only losing four players from last year's roster, W&M welcomes 11 newcomers to the roster for the 2017 season. The Tribe adds one transfer – redshirt freshman
Lauren Kelly – and 10 true freshmen,
Meredith Beam,
Lorena Bugden,
Erin Dailey,
Page Frantz,
Sarah Haggerty,
Kelsey Hamer,
Mariana Hershner,
Alex Kuhnle,
Colleen Norton, and
Sophia Sanie.
Welcome Home
Former Tribe women's soccer player
Marsha Lycan '87 returns to Williamsburg as an assistant coach for the 2017 season. She appeared in 59 games for the Green and Gold, while she scored 12 goals, recorded seven assists, and 31 points. She helped the Tribe to the 1983 Division I ECAC Championship, before leading Tribe to three straight NCAA Tournaments from 1984-86. Lycan graduated from W&M with a degree psychology in 1987.
