WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – William & Mary field hockey opens the 2025 season at home on Friday afternoon against American, before traveling to Norfolk to battle in-state rival Old Dominion on Sunday.
The Tribe hosts the Eagles at 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, and the game will be broadcast on FloCollege. W&M heads to Old Dominion on Sunday, Aug. 31, at 1 p.m.
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 News and Notes
- Junior
Josie Mae Gruendel and senior
Emme Schwartz earned Preseason All-CAA honors ahead of the 2025 season. Gruendel was one of 12 players named to the preseason All-CAA team, while Schwartz was among five players be earn honorable mention distinction. It marked the second-straight season in which Gruendel was recognized after she was on the honorable mention list in 2024. A CAA All-Rookie selection in 2023, she has started 26 of his 35 career appearances for the Tribe. Schwartz has started 37 of the 38 matches over the last two seasons and tallied two assists and three defensive saves in 2024.
- The Tribe leads the all-times series with former CAA foe American at 28-14-2. The teams meet for the third time in the last four years. The Eagles won the last season, 2-0, in Washington, D.C. American makes its first trip to Williamsburg since 2000, which was their final season in the CAA.
- Outside of the 2021 COVID spring season, the Tribe and Monarchs have met every year since 1973. ODU leads the all-time series between the former conference mates, 55-21, including a 4-1 win in Williamsburg last season. The Tribe's last victory in the series came in Williamsburg, 3-2, in double overtime during the 2022 season.
- The Tribe's nonconference schedule includes four NCAA Tournament teams from last season (Lafayette, Duke, Virginia, and Delaware), and three teams ranked in the preseason national top 20 by the NFHCA. No. 3 Virginia (Oct. 19) and No. 5 Duke (Sept. 12) are both among the national top five and make trips to Williamsburg in 2025. Liberty is also in the national rankings at No. 17 and travels to Busch Field on Sept. 28. Of the 12 nonconference foes, nine finished last season with a record of .500 or better and at least 10 wins.
- The Tribe returns four starters from last season. Along with Gruendel and Schwartz, senior
Erin Griffin and junior
Mackinzie Brown started 17 and 11 matches for the Tribe last season.
- W&M welcomes 10 newcomers to the roster in 2025. The Tribe added seven freshmen (
Erma Grey Bailey,
Emily Bell,
Alora Chappell,
Gracie Clawson,
Lily Johnson,
Arden Mankovich, and
Gia Zarro) and a trio of transfers (
Sam Daly from Division II Converse,
Anya Green from Northeastern, and
Ellen Ford from Ohio State) this season.
