WILLIAMSBURG, Va.— Looking for an equalizer for much of the second half,
Lindsay Wilson put William & Mary women's soccer on the board in the 74th minute, aiding the Tribe to a 1-1 draw with George Mason in the squad's season opener.
After a slow and physical start, the first real chance of the match belonged to the visiting Patriots via a free kick in the 19th minute. The shot was fired directly off the set piece from 20 yards out but sailed high over the crossbar.
W&M's first high quality chances came in the 27th minute when
Paige Seitz and
Ellie Leffler both fired from the right wing outside the box 30 seconds apart, but the shots just missed the far post and the game remained scoreless.
The physicality stayed high for the remainder of the half until Mason broke the scoring stalemate in the 44th minute. The Patriots took their 1-0 lead to the half with shots even 3-3.
The Patriots looked to expand their lead, holding possession for the majority of the opening 10 minutes in the second half. However, William & Mary's backline stood tall, not allowing a clean look at the Tribe net and blocking a pair of shots to keep it a one-goal game.
Gwen Doughty, earning the start in goal in her first collegiate game, made her first save of the evening in the 60th minute, leaping to her left to snag the Patriot shot attempt.
W&M used the save as a chance to counterattack, quickly flipping the field to
Ivey Crain, but the senior's shot from just outside the 18-yard box missed high.
The Tribe tested the Mason keeper for the first time in the 70
th minute. Freshman
Mia Abbey fired from the top of the box, but the attempt was handled by the goalie as Mason clung to its 1-0 lead.
W&M finally found the answer it was looking for in the 74th minute, when Wilson fired a long right foot strike that snuck past the keeper and into the bottom right of the goal, knotting the game at 1-1.
Crain looked poised to secure a victory for the Tribe in the 82nd minute, steering a header off a corner kick towards the net, but the Mason keeper was up to task as the game ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
W&M owned the shot category on the evening, 8-6.
The Tribe will have a quick turnaround, taking on 757 rival Old Dominion on Sunday in Norfolk at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
