LYNCHBURG, Va. – Continuing its challenging start to the 2024 season, William & Mary field hockey suffered a 5-0 setback at No. 12-ranked Liberty on Friday afternoon.
 
The Tribe (0-5) has played four of its first five matches this season, including each of the last three, against nationally-ranked opponents.
 
Thanks to a trio of first-quarter saves from graduate student goalkeeper Maddie George, the Tribe held Liberty off the scoreboard through the opening 15 minutes.
 
The Flames used a fastbreak goal to open the scoring just over three minutes into the second quarter. Lou Combrinck found Martu Cian to give the home team the lead for good.
 
Ava Murphy added the second Liberty goal at the 24-minute mark to send the home team to a 2-0 halftime lead.
 
Liberty (3-1) added a goal in the third quarter and two in the fourth quarters for the final margin.
 
George, who entered the match leading the country in saves at 12 per game, totaled seven on the afternoon for the Tribe.
 
Juniors Olivia Stocks and Natasha Browning tallied shots on the afternoon for the Tribe.

Starters
W&M – #1 George (GK), #2 Schuma, #4 Brown, #5 Gruendel, #7 Richbourg, #8 Friedman, #9 McGaughey, #16 Stocks, #18 Bartzen, #27 Schwartz, #28 Griffin
Liberty – #99 Skinner (GK), #2 Underwood, #4 Livingston, #9 Dell Anna, #11 Tomasi, #12 Cian, #13 Faust, #15 Murphy, #21 Combrinck, #25 Miller, #32 Semmartin
 
Scoring Summary
19' | Liberty – Martu Cian (Lou Combrinck)
24' | Liberty – Ava Murphy (Malena Magnano)
36' | Liberty – Reagan Underwood (Combrinck)
53' | Liberty – Combrinck (unassisted)
59' | Liberty – Josefin Tomasi (Reagan Underwood)
 
Up Next
The Tribe continues its road swing against instate foes when it travels to James Madison on Sunday, Feb. 15. The contest carries a 1 p.m. start time in Harrisonburg, Va.