Since its inception in 1981, the William & Mary women's soccer program has had a tradition of winning that is unparalleled in the NCAA. Since its very first match on September 19, 1981 against Richmond, a 5-1 victory, the Tribe has made a habit of winning. For 36 consecutive years, William & Mary had a winning season, an NCAA record. Along with all of its success in the regular season, the Tribe has also had its fair share of winning in the postseason, earning berths to the NCAA Tournament on 25 occasions, third all-time in the history of the NCAA.
In the infancy of the program, the Green and Gold had its fair share of success. During the first six seasons under head coach John Charles, the Tribe had an overall record of 64-32-13, earning three-consecutive bids to the NCAA Championship beginning in 1984.
The program would begin to really begin to make itself known on the collegiate landscape in 1987, beginning with the promotion of John Daly as head coach before the season. Immediately upon his arrival, Daly put his own stamp on the team, leading W&M to a 10-7-3 mark during the regular season. But it was in the NCAA Tournament that season that William & Mary put itself on the soccer map, making a run all the way to the Elite Eight. From that season on, the College has been a perennial NCAA contender.
Daly would go on to rewrite William & Mary's record book for the next 31 seasons and solidify himself as one of the greatest soccer coaches in NCAA history. Daly amassed a record of 413-176-57 (.683) in his 31 years as leader of the Tribe, when W&M defeated UNC Greensboro on Sept. 11, 2016, he became the sixth Division I coach and 13th coach overall in NCAA history to win 400 career matches.
In 2004, Daly and former men's head coach Al Albert were each recognized by the College when the new all-grass stadium was named in their honor. In the 19 years that the Tribe has played at Albert-Daly field, it has rung up an impressive record of 100-46-20 (.663) at the facility.
Following Daly's retirement after the 2017, W&M selected one of its own to lead the program into the future. Former All-American Julie Cunningham Shackford '88 was tabbed as the program's third head coach on Dec. 13, 2017. A W&M Hall of Famer, Shackford won 245 games in 25 years at both Carnegie Mellon and Princeton. She led the Tigers to the 2014 National Semifinals.
Over the last two years, the Tribe produced major award winners in the CAA Goalkeeper of the Year (Zoe Doughty) in 2021 and the CAA Rookie of the Year (Ivey Crain) in 2022. Shackford led the Tribe back to the CAA Tournament for hte first time in five years in 2022.
On the pitch, William & Mary has become nationally renowned for producing some of the finest players in the country. The program has produced two National Players of the Year, eight members of the CAA 25th Anniversary Team, 30 All-American honors, and five professionals.
In 1987, Megan McCarthy became the Tribe's first National Player of the Year. McCarthy had a brilliant career for the Green and Gold, earning the All-American accolades and twice being named All-Region.
Then in 1995, four-time All-American Natalie Neaton was named the ISAA National Player of the Year after a season in which the forward netted 19 goals and tallied 14 assists. In her illustrious career, Neaton racked up numerous honors, including two CAA Player of the Year awards and three All-CAA First Team accolades.
Along with the National Player of the Year awards, the Tribe has also produced some of the best CAA players in the conference's history. In 2009, the CAA announced the 25th Anniversary Team for women's soccer and the Green & Gold was more than well represented. Eight former members of the Tribe were named to the 25-woman squad, double that of any other program. Along with Neaton, also named to the team were three-time All-Americans Ann Cook, Robin Lotze, Missy Wycinsky, and Claire Zimmeck, two-time All-American Dani Collins, 1989 All-American Stephanie Loehr, four-time All-CAA selections Carnie Moore and Lindsay Vanderspiegel.
Many of the College's greats have also received national recognition for their exceptional play at William & Mary. The Tribe has seen 14 of its players earn 31 All-American honors under head coach John Daly, highlighted by four-time selection Neaton and six three-time honorees.
Along with the collegiate success that many of the Tribe players have, a handful have also had the opportunity to play and showcase their skills on a professional level. In 2001, the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) held its inaugural draft that saw four former members of the Tribe get drafted, including two former greats getting picked in the first round. Ann Cook was selected with the fourth pick of the first round, while Carrie Moore picked 14th in the opening round. Also selected in that draft were Missy Wycinsky in the eighth round and Stephanie Loehr in the 11th round. In 2009, Claire Zimmeck was drafted in the ninth round of the inaugural Women's Professional Soccer draft by the Washington Freedom. The following year, Dani Collins was taken in the seventh round (60th overall) of the WPS Draft by the Philadelphia Independence. The Tribe has had three players selected in the NWSL - Mallory Shaffer in 2011, Caroline Casey in 2016, and Rachel Moore in 2018.
The Tribe continues to have a massive impact on the professional and international game. W&M alums Jill Ellis '84 led the United States Women's National Team to back-to-back FIFA Wold Cups in 2015 and 2019. In her seven years as the USWNT manager, she won 106 matches and was named the FIFA Women's Coach of the Year in 2015. Ellis now serves at the team president for NWSL side San Diego Wave FC. Another Tribe alumnae, Jennifer Tepper Mackesy '91, is an operating owner of the NWSL's NJ/NY Gotham FC.
Soccer in Williamsburg is not just simply a seasonal event, it's a year-long tradition. The William & Mary soccer programs receive fantastic support from the student body and the residents of the Tidewater area, and these fans are rewarded for their support with a great product.
The success enjoyed by W&M's student-athletes and the high-level of community involvement in the soccer programs combine to make the College of William & Mary a truly unique place in the soccer world.
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