By Dave Johnson
W&M Athletics
 
In this shortened season, with less room for error, William & Mary's field hockey team faced an important week with Towson on Wednesday and No. 20 Delaware on Sunday. To stay in contention for the four-team conference tournament, W&M needed at least a split.
 
Instead, the Tribe got a sweep by winning each game 2-0. With a 3-1 record, W&M has all but secured a spot in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament for a fifth consecutive season.
 
With one game remaining — Friday at Northeastern — William & Mary is in second place behind James Madison (3-0). Since an opening-game loss at JMU on March 19, the Tribe has won three consecutive games by allowing one goal in 180 minutes.
 
"When we played JMU, it was like 498 days since we had played a game of field hockey," head coach Tess Ellis said. "Each game, the team just gets to know each other. My defense is probably the youngest unit I have out there right now, so it's just a matter of game experience together."
 
Before Sunday's win against Delaware, Ellis told her keepers — junior Kimi Jones and freshman Maddie George — they would split time. Jones played the first half and George the second. The Blue Hens had only two shots on goal, both in the first half against Jones.
 
Qualifying for the tournament, which begins April 22 in Newark, Delaware, would be only step one. Winning would be step two.
 
"We have two seasons — hopefully three," Ellis said. "We're trying to drag this season on as long as we can so it seems like a normal season."
 
Men's Tennis: Dramatic finish leads Tribe past ODU
With all eyes upon him, senior Chen Ruo rallied for a 3-6, 7-6, 7-5 win at No. 6 singles to clinch a 4-3 win over Old Dominion. It was the Tribe's fourth consecutive victory.
 
After splitting the first two sets, Ruo was down 2-5 in the third before winning five consecutive games. With him and ODU's Oliver Tobisch both cramping, Ruo held serve in the 12th game in what literally became the last man standing.
 
"Chen served, and (Tobisch) ripped the ball back," W&M coach Jeff Kader said. "But as soon as he ripped it back, he went down. Chen got to it and knocked it back on the court and the kid was down.
 
"And that was the match. It was an exciting college tennis match.
 
After winning his first singles match of the season in dramatic fashion, Ruo was mobbed by his teammates.
 
"He's a senior with a lot of experience, but that's still a nerve-wracking time when it comes down to the last match against a rival opponent," Kader said. "I was proud of him and just incredibly happy for him."
 
The Tribe has regular-season matches remaining at Richmond (Wednesday) and VCU (Thursday) before the CAA Championship, which begins April 30 at the Millie West Tennis Facility.
 
Women's Tennis: Improving Tribe wins at Richmond
William & Mary took the doubles point and got singles wins from No. 1 Mila Saric, No. 4 Vitoria Okuyama, No. 5 Raffaela Alhach and No. 6 Alisia Manolescu to secure a 5-2 win over Richmond. It was the Tribe's second win since March 7, but head coach Toni Bickford has seen steady improvement.
 
The previous day, W&M lost 5-2 to No. 35 Old Dominion. One of the Tribe's single losses came in a super-tiebreaker in the third set.
 
"They're probably going to be an at-large bid to the NCAA qualifiers as a team," Bickford said. "We're so close to these teams, and it's a matter of a couple more points and a matter of a little more belief.
 
"We're right at the time of the year when we're peaking. Fortunately, it's right before the CAA tournament, which is 10 days away. We're very happy where we are now, and that means a lot to us because it gives us the confidence that we can get over the hurdle."
 
Saric improved her season record to 8-2 at No. 1 singles. Against ODU, she defeated nationally ranked Holly Hutchinson in three sets for the second time this spring.
 
The Tribe is scheduled to host VCU Wednesday. The CAA Championship is set for April 22-25 at the  Millie West Tennis Facility.
 
Around the horn …
In men's track and field, William & Mary won four events at the George Mason Spring Invitational Sunday. Theo Chambers won the 400 meters (48.21), Josh Lewin took the 800 (a personal-best 1:50.48), Jared O'Riley placed first in the javelin (a personal-best 64.89m, 212-11) and KJ Cook won the hammer (61.34m, 201-3). …
 
On the women's side, Felecia Hayes won the 100-meter dash with a personal-best 12.21, the eighth-fastest race in program history. She finished fifth in the 200 at 24.72, also a personal best. …
 
Men's soccer closed its season with a 2-1 overtime loss at Elon. All four of the Tribe's losses were by one goal.