LYNCHBURG, Va. – William & Mary field hockey turned in a masterful defensive performance and converted a penalty stroke in the final minute of the first overtime period to upset No. 6-ranked Liberty, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon.
 
Senior defender Ireland Miller converted the penalty stroke into the boards without a challenge from Liberty goalkeeper Azul Iritxity Irigoyen to ignite a Tribe (3-1) celebration. It marked the Tribe's third OT win this season and its second against a nationally-ranked opponent, the most for W&M since 2017.
 
The Tribe defense, led by junior goalkeeper Maddie George, was the highlight of the match. The Green and Gold backstop made a career-high 12 saves in recording her second shutout of the season. George made 10 saves in the second half and overtime alone, including four in the extra frame.
 
The Flames (2-1), which was the national runner-up a season ago, entered the match as the national leader in scoring at 5.5 goals per game.
 
W&M generated the decisive penalty stroke with just 42 seconds remaining in the first extra session. During the sequence, junior Jayden Moon carried toward the top of the circle and tried to feed graduate student Aidan Rossman. The ball was deflected by a Liberty defender, but right to junior Allison Goodwin who centered to Rossman in the crease. The Tribe forward was tripped up as her shot was blocked by a Liberty defender and W&M was awarded the stroke.
 
The win was also the Tribe's fourth against top-10 opponents under head coach Tess Ellis, including the third on the road. W&M last knocked off a top-10 foe when it upset No. 5 Louisville, 2-1, in double OT at home in 2019.
 
For the game, Liberty outshot W&M, 24-5. The Flames generated nine penalty corners, including three in OT, compared to two for the Tribe. Senior Lily Saunders led the Tribe with two shots.
 
Scoring Summary
70' | W&M – Ireland Miller (penalty stroke)
 
Starters
W&M – #1 George (GK), #3 Domovich, #4 Saunders, #6 Rossman, #8 Friedman, #9 McGaughey, #12 Moon, #14 Billingham, #17 Miller, #21 Goodwin, #33 Curran
LU - #91 Iritxity Irigoyen (GK), #1 Hamlett, #2 Underwood, #5 Dykema, #7 Iturraspe, #8 Conolly, #9 Vaanhold, #10 Rhodes, #12 Cian, #15 Hosler, #21 Combrinck
 
Up Next
The Tribe returns to action, traveling to the state of North Carolina for a pair of matches next week. W&M heads to Davidson on Friday, Sept. 9, for a 6 p.m. match. The Tribe wraps up the trip at No. 18 Duke on Sunday, Sept. 11. That contest carries a 1 p.m. start time and will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.