William and Mary fell in its season opener to the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s top team in Maryland, 18-7, after the first half turned into a rout that saw only two Tribe goals to Maryland’s 15 in Maryland’s Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex Sunday.
The Tribe held its own for the opening of the first, twice answering a pair of Maryland goals with one of its own to keep the score at 4-2, 12 minutes and 40 seconds into the half. Maryland then tallied 11 unanswered goals before the break to bring the score to 15-2. The Tribe maintained tighter control of the game in the second half, limiting Maryland to just three goals while scoring five of its own, but the College couldn’t tally enough to erase the first half’s mountainous deficit. When the final whistle sounded, Maryland had scored more goals in the game than the Tribe had taken shots. Maryland’s domination of play, from a perfect clear percentage to seven forced turnovers to consistent control of draws, forced the College to its first loss of the season.
The Tribe’s total of 15 shots on goal was significantly lower than that of its 2017 season average (25 per game). The College will be looking to get more shots on goal in its next match. In each of its three wins last season, the Tribe dominated in shot control; it lost every match it was outshot in throughout the 2017 run.
Six Tribe players recorded their first goals of the season in the 18-7 loss. Sophomore midfielder Nikky Price, who scored seven goals in 11 games last season, opened scoring for the Tribe. Junior attacker Maddie Torgerson was the only player to record a multi-goal game, with one tally in each half. Freshman midfielder Annelise Kotz, who also scored her first goal of the season in the loss, led the College in shots with four in the game. In addition to the familiar faces, three Tribe players made their first career starts, including freshman attacker Sophie Kopec and sophomore midfielder Annalise Lower (with one shot on goal apiece) as well as freshman midfielder Anne Milwicz (with four draw controls, the best record on the team).
The College looks to improve on last season’s 3-17 record at next week’s Sunday home opener against Longwood. The Tribe will fight for its first win of the season at 3 p.m.