WILLIAMSBURG, Va.— The William & Mary women's soccer team celebrated their senior class of nine on Sunday at Martin Family Stadium, but had the festivities spoiled by visiting Charleston, 3-2.
 
Following the senior day ceremony, the action on the field wasted no time providing fireworks.
 
The Cougars took advantage of an early counterattack in the 11^th minute, taking a 1-0 lead, but the Green and Gold wasted no time responding.
 
After earning a corner kick in the 13^th minute, Gabriella Kurtas served the ball from the left side into the 6-yard box, deflecting directly off the keeper and into the back of the net.
 
The equalizer was the first goal of the season for the Kurtas. The senior from Douglassville, Pa. now has four points on the year for W&M (7-6-0, 2-3-0 CAA).
 
Charleston (8-3-3, 1-2-2 CAA) hopped back on the attack after the Tribe goal, taking the last nine shots of the half. Morgan Wood, making the start in net for W&M, was called on to make a trio of saves, including a diving stop in the 40^th minute.
 
The stick-to-itiveness of the Cougars paid off in the 42^nd minute hopping back in front off a goal from a tic-tac-toe play. They would carry their 2-1 lead into the halftime break.
 
Shots through 45 minutes favored Charleston 13-2.
 
Coming out of the locker room the Cougars picked up where they left off, scoring in the 46^th minute to make it 3-1.
 
Just as they did in the first half, the Tribe quickly responded to the Charleston goal with Ivey Crain, current leader in the CAA in shots per game, breaking free in the 53^rd minute.
 
After getting around the keeper the junior had her shot stopped short of the net by a Cougar defender. The rebound caromed right back to Crain however, who calmly collected herself and fired another shot through the legs of the goalie for her fifth goal of the season.
 
Four minutes later the Tribe seemed poised for an equalizer, but shots from Peyton Costello and Marisa McClure hit the woodwork and missed high respectively.
 
Despite threatening to attack, those were the last shots of the game recorded by W&M as they fell by a final score of 3-2.
 
The final shot total favored the Cougars 18-9, but the Tribe held the second half advantage 7-5.
 
Up Next
The Tribe returns to action on the road Thursday with a visit to Elon. Kick is set for 7 p.m. on FloFC.