By Dave Johnson
W&M Athletics
 
Defense wins championships, or so the adage goes. William & Mary certainly had that covered last fall with a strong back line and the Colonial Athletic Association's Goalkeeper of the Year in Zoe Doughty.
 
The Tribe's defense allowed only six goals in nine conference matches. The problem was, W&M scored only two — one in each of its wins. The Tribe had three 1-0 losses and three scoreless ties.
 
With the '22 season less than two weeks away, William & Mary coach Julie Shackford believes the pieces are in place. It's a simple matter of executing and finishing.
 
"At the beginning of the spring, we videoed close to 160 of our attacks," said Shackford, who is going into her fifth season. "It wasn't that we didn't create good opportunities. It literally was the finishing piece.
 
"Some of it was unlucky. When I look at some of the stuff, I don't think in my 30 years I've ever seen anything like it. But it actually improved a lot in the spring, so I'm really optimistic."
 
A major reason for Shackford's optimism is that 17 W&M players competed in top amateur leagues this summer. That includes senior Kayleigh Shackford and juniors Ginny Delacruz and Kenna Zier, who spent the summer with the Washington Spirit Reserves. Delacruz also trained with the Spirit's first team.
 
Another is that if all goes as planned, W&M will play two preseason games — the first coming Saturday at home vs. Richmond — for the first time since 2018. Weather led to cancelations in '19 and '21, and COVID reared its ugly head in '20.
 
Offensively, Shackford is counting on more production from a variety of threats. Kayleigh Shackford and junior Elaina Longjohn, who combined for three goals last season, are returning starters. Coach Shackford likes the potential brought by sophomores Marisa McClure and Mia Suchora.
 
She is hopeful Cricket Basa, a grad transfer from Vermont and Most Outstanding Player of the America East Championship in 2021, as well as freshmen Ivey Crain, Madison Moon and Sheridan Brummett will make an impact.
 
Heading up the midfield are returning starters Zier, Shackford, Jillian O'Toole and Gabriella Kurtas. Emily Crocco returns and Madeleine Hayes proved her versatility in the midfield and back. Newcomer Nora Green-Orset, a Norwegian youth national team player, can play in the midfield or the backline.
 
Shackford also expects newcomers Alyssa Kenealy and Chloe Ausburn to be in contention for minutes.
 
In the back, Shackford has experienced performers in Nicole Sellers, Emma D'Alesandro, Addie Puskar, and Delacruz. Bridget Fitzpatrick also brings experience as both a wide or central back. Also in the mix will be Maddie Walker, Leila Greene, Hayes and Orset.
 
"Sophie Geslao is making a comeback after unfortunate injuries and she has been a great leader for our defensive core," Shackford said. "There are a number of players who are very versatile, and the depth will be important in a conference with parity from top to bottom."
 
Protecting the net will be Doughty, who in conference games last season allowed three goals in 708 minutes — including a scoreless run of 426½ minutes. Sophomore Morgan Wood is a solid backup.
 
"Along with a stellar defense, Zoe kept us in every game," Shackford said. "We have high expectations with her leading our team from the back. She's a very poised leader, and we're hopeful she'll have another breakout year."
 
The CAA will have a different look this season with James Madison gone and Hampton University, Stony Brook and Monmouth University in. That will give the Colonial 12 members for women's soccer with each playing nine conference opponents. (W&M will play everyone with the exception of Drexel and Delaware).
 
Also new is an NCAA rule that eliminated overtime during the regular season. Last fall, 17 of the CAA's 45 conference games went to overtime. Ten of those went to a second overtime, and six of those ended in a tie. W&M led the CAA in overtimes (six) and ties (three).
 
"The load on their bodies over the course of the season with so many overtimes," Shackford said, "I was all in favor of that."
 
Shackford's team proved it could play with anyone in the conference last fall. Eight of its nine games were decided, one way or another, by no more than one goal. The exception was a 3-0 loss at Towson, in which the Tigers scored all three of their goals in the final 12 minutes.
 
William & Mary, which opens Aug. 18 at home against Virginia Tech, wants to do more than just compete.
 
"It's time — there are no excuses now," Shackford said. "We've spent the better part of three years laying down a culture and getting structure on defense that is second nature to these guys. Now, it's having the confidence and the moxie to be dangerous consistently."