The No. 23-ranked William & Mary field hockey team fought all the way to the final whistle on Friday night, but couldn't overcome a potent attack by No. 12 Delaware as the Blue Hens won, 5-1. The Tribe secured the No. 2 seed in next week's Colonial Athletic Association Tournament while moving to 11-6 overall and 4-1 in conference play. The Blue Hens, meanwhile, improved to 13-3, 5-0 in the CAA, and secured both the No. 1 seed and at least a share of the regular season title for the fourth year in a row.
How it Happened
- W&M fell into a hole early, conceding two goals in the first six minutes. Delaware pressed hard and was able to jump on passes near goal for the early scores.
- In the eighth minute off a corner, the Tribe defense was whistled for an infraction and the Blue Hens awarded a stroke, but
Kimi Jones (Virginia Beach, Va.) stood tall and was able to force the Delaware shot wide to keep her team within striking distance.
- The second quarter saw possession much more in W&M's favor, though Delaware was still able to generate several more dangerous chances.
- In the 27th minute, W&M was able to draw a corner for the first time in the contest, but the attempted connection from senior captain
Christie van de Kamp (Midlothian, Va.) and
Cassidy Goodwin (Gloucester, Va.) was unable to fully realize, and the shot went wide of the cage.
- The third quarter saw senior goalkeeper
Morgan Connor (Bedford, N.Y.) come on in relief of Jones, who finished with one save. The Tribe offense did its best to ensure she would not be tested to soon, keeping possession in the Delaware end for most of the first five minutes.
- Despite a significant advantage in time of possession, it was Delaware who were able to break through to goal again. In the 40th minute, a Blue Hens attack led to another penalty stroke call, after two players got tangled up in the circle, and this time, Delaware was able to convert for the 3-0 lead.
- W&M drove right back in after the restart and got all the way in for a shot, but couldn't get the goal despite holding the ball around the circle for the final five minutes.
- The fourth quarter began with a fourth Delaware goal, with the Blue Hens driving straight off the whistle and taking once pass to score.
- The Blue Hens would tack on one more in the 49th minute, but on the restart, W&M got on the board thanks to the work of van de Kamp. Senior
Woodard Hooper (Williamsburg, Va.) drove in on the attack and was impeded, drawing a penalty stroke. As she has all season long, van de Kamp stepped to the spot and scored, her NCAA-leading sixth penalty stroke of the year, and her team-best eighth goal overall.
Starters
W&M -
Kimi Jones,
Haley Hopkins,
Annie Snead,
Ella Donahue,
Tabby Billingham,
Christie van de Kamp,
Cara Menges,
Woodard Hooper,
Cassidy Goodwin,
Jorja Morgan,
Ashley Drum
UD - Sydney Rhodes, Grace Miller, Ally Pollak, Milan Spooren, Emily Kresho, Sophie Giezeman, Grace Hoepfner, Ashlyn Carr, Femke Strien, Sarah Horgan, Kerri McClay
Notes
W&M will be the No. 2 seed in the CAA Tournament for the third time in the last four seasons ... The Tribe will play at 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, back in Newark, Del. ... Van de Kamp's six penalty stroke goals this season ranks second all-time in W&M history, behind only
Saskia Bensdorp '98 scoring seven in 1995 ... Van de Kamp moved into a tie for first on the Tribe's all-time career ranking with Bensdorp, with seven total strokes scored and attempted in her career ... W&M's opponent in the CAA Semifinals will be decided on Sunday ... The Tribe will play James Madison with either a JMU win or a Northeastern loss ... If James Madison loses AND Northeastern wins, then W&M will play the Huskies in the semifinal for the second year in a row ... W&M can still claim a share of the regular season title with a win on Sunday, and a loss by Delaware (to James Madison).
Up Next
William & Mary will close the regular season on Sunday, Nov. 3, playing at Towson at 1 p.m.
