WILLIAMSBURG — William & Mary women’s soccer was busy on the pitch over the summer with 17 student-athletes playing in the top amateur leagues in the country. With student-athletes reporting for fall camp and the start of the 2022 campaign, TribeAthletics.com provides a look at the Tribe’s success over the summer.
“The platforms our college players have in the summer continues to expand in both number and quality,” head coach Julie Shackford said. “We are thrilled all the leagues have made women’s soccer a priority and so many of our players were able to compete at a really high level, doing what they love. Women’s soccer continues to provide environments nationally to increase opportunities and help grow and give attention to the women’s game.”
A trio of Tribe players — Cricket Basa, Bridget Fitzpatrick and Jillian O’Toole — competed in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL), which is the top amateur league for women. Basa, playing for the Vermont Fusion, and Fitzpatrick, competing with Penn Fusion PA, helped their teams win the Northeastern and Colonial Conference Championships, respectively.
Another three — Emma D’Alesandro (Copa FC), Gabriella Kurtas (Keystone FC) and Morgan Wood (Keystone FC) — played in the United Women’s Soccer League (UWS), which is a professional amateur league that competes at the highest level below the NWSL professional league. Wood and Kurtas started every game for Keystone FC with Wood leading the league in saves with 94 and Kurtas topping the team in assists.
The trio of Ginny Delacruz, Kayleigh Shackford and Kenna Zier spent the summer with the Washington Spirit Reserves. The Reserve squad creates a competitive and professional training environment and the Reserve players are held to the same standards as the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) first team. Delacruz also spent time training with the Spirit first team.
Emily Crocco and Addie Puskar played for Richmond United and helped the organization to the Club Champions League Pro 23 Championship. Madeleine Hayes spent the summer with the Virginia Development Academy U23 team.
Five Tribe players competed in the United Soccer League W-League. Isabella Kalaris, Marisa McClure,Nicole Sellers and Maddie Walker played for the Northern Virginia FC, while Sophie Geslao helped Morris Elite FC to an 8-1-3 mark and a Metropolitan Division title.
Season tickets for Tribe soccer are now on sale at TribeAthletics.com/Tickets or by calling the Tribe Ticket Office at (757) 221-3340. The regular season gets underway on Aug. 18 when the W&M welcomes ACC foe Virginia Tech to Martin Family Stadium at 6 p.m.
The Tribe opens the exhibition portion of the schedule at home against Richmond on Saturday, Aug. 6, at 5 p.m. Admission to the exhibition is FREE.
W&M In the Summer Leagues
| Player | Team |
| Cricket Basa | Vermont Fusion (WPSL) |
| Emily Crocco | Richmond United (CCL Pro 23 League) |
| Emma D’Alesandro | Copa FC (UWS) |
| Ginny Delacruz | Washington Spirit Reserves |
| Bridget Fitzpatrick | Penn Fusion PA (WPSL) |
| Sophie Geslao | Morris Elite FC (USL W-League) |
| Madeleine Hayes | Virginia Development Academy U23 |
| Isabella Kalaris | Northern Virginia FC (USL W-League) |
| Gabriella Kurtas | Keystone FC (UWS) |
| Marisa McClure | Northern Virginia FC (USL W-League) |
| Jillian O’Toole | STA (WPSL) |
| Addie Puskar | Richmond United (CCL Pro 23 League) |
| Nicole Sellers | Northern Virginia FC (USL W-League) |
| Kayleigh Shackford | Washington Spirit Reserves |
| Maddie Walker | Northern Virginia FC (USL W-League) |
| Morgan Wood | Keystone FC (UWS) |
| Kenna Zier | Washington Spirit Reserves |
