WILLIAMSBURG, Va.—The William & Mary women's soccer team not only opens its season on Thursday but kicks off all competition for W&M Athletics in 2025-26, hosting George Mason at 7 p.m. at Martin Family Stadium.
Clear Bag Policy and Metal Detectors
Furthering its commitment to a first class and secure environment at home athletic events, William & Mary will implement the use of walk-through metal detectors at the entrances to athletic venues (both ticketed and non-ticketed events) beginning in the fall of 2025. This enhanced security method mirrors standard practice at most major professional and intercollegiate athletic events throughout the country and compliments the
Clear Bag Policy already in place. Fans will proceed through metal detectors prior to having their tickets scanned or entering a venue for non-tickets events. Entrants will not need to remove items such as belts, cell phones, coins, jackets, jewelry, watches, wallets, shoes or other small objects. If additional screening is necessary, security staff will ask the individual to proceed to a secondary screening area, where they will be asked to divest themselves of certain items and pass through again until clear.
TRIBE NOTES
A Look Back
Julie Shackford's squad heads into the fresh campaign after an 8-10-0 mark last year and a 3-7-0 record in CAA play. The brightest spot of the Tribe's season came early on, ripping off four straight wins, the fourth being over local rival Richmond, to start the year 4-2. The stretch was the W&M's first four-game win streak since 2017 and first under Shackford's leadership.
Ivey Crain earned her way onto the All-CAA Second Team for the second straight year after posting 15 total points and seven goals.
They Know the Drill
One year after returning 23 players, the fourth most in Division I, the Tribe will feature 22 returners in 2025. The returners accounted for 13 of W&M's 24 goals a season ago, led by Crain's seven.
Kenley Campbell,
Lindsay Wilson,
Molly Widderich,
Nora Green-Orset and
Leila Greene join Crain as the group of six returning players who started 11-plus contests a year ago.
All About Ivey
There is little doubt that
Ivey Crain has been the catalyst of the William & Mary offense throughout the first three years of her college career. The Milton, Ga. native has led the Tribe in scoring and goals in each of her first three seasons in Williamsburg, posting 15 points and seven goals in each of the last two seasons after a breakout freshman campaign of 23 points and nine goals in 2022.
Her 53 career points in 57 matches have brought along plenty of accolades. Crain was named Preseason All-CAA for the third time in as many years on Monday by the conference's coaches. The Tribe forward has been All-CAA Second Team following each of the last two seasons and was the league's Freshman of the Year and a first team selection in 2022.
Defensive Duo
Two other Tribe players earned honors on Monday. The backline duo of
Kenley Campbell and
Nora Green-Orset were both named Preseason All-CAA Honorable Mention. Campbell quickly established herself as a staple on the Tribe defense as a freshman last year, playing the full 90 minutes in each of the last nine matches. Green-Orset heads into her senior year looking to be a leader on the W&M backline having posted four goals and five assists for 13 career points in 52 matches. The Arlington, Va. product has started 30 of the last 34 matches she has played in.
Same Conference, New Divisions
The CAA announced this summer a new divisional model in soccer, breaking the league into the CAA North and CAA South. The Tribe is joined in the South by Elon, Charleston, UNCW, Campbell and Hampton. W&M received two first place votes in the division's preseason poll and was picked third behind Elon and Charleston. The top three teams from both divisions will advance to the conference's postseason tournament.
Tribe>Patriots
2025 marks the third time in as many years that W&M and George Mason will meet in an August matchup, with the series being dominated by the Tribe as of late. W&M holds a 5-0-1 record over Mason since 2011, including wins of 3-0 and 4-0 the last two seasons. The Patriots are eyeing their first win in Williamsburg since 2009 as the overall series sits 25-14-6 in favor of the Tribe.
Setting Up Shop in VA
The Tribe not only opens the season at home on Thursday but will not leave the state of Virginia until the final non-conference game at Delaware on September 12, the eighth game of the year. W&M will host four of its first seven games at Martin Family Stadium while also visiting Old Dominion, James Madison and Virginia Tech before having to cross state lines.
Scouting Mason
George Mason looks to rebound in 2025 after a record of 3-10-6, 2-5-2 A-10 in 2024, failing to reach the postseason. Aaron Brunner enters his second season as head coach.
