The William & Mary Athletics Department announced plans on Feb. 26 for expanded attendance for students at athletics events within selected venues in response to Gov. Ralph Northam’s easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
The revised Executive Order 72 allows limited spectators at outdoor venues — the total number of which cannot exceed the lesser of 1,000 spectators or 30% capacity.
Students are expected to gather safely within all applicable social distance protocols.
“We’re very excited to be able to safely welcome students this spring to cheer on their classmates,” said W&M Interim Director of Athletics Jeremy Martin. “We continue to look forward to the day when we can welcome back our entire community to support the Tribe in person.”
The revised capacity will also allow the department to increase the previously limited pass list for student-athletes’ families to attend events.
W&M Athletics said it will collaborate with the university, including the Student Assembly, as it makes decisions on how to make the best use of the available attendance opportunities.
No tickets will available for public sale to any William & Mary Athletics events.
Women’s soccer draws VCU, 1-1
Junior Addie Puskar scored her first collegiate goal as William & Mary women’s soccer played a 1-1 draw with Virginia Commonwealth University in its first match of the 2021 spring campaign Friday night.
“I thought it was an incredibly hard-fought performance for our first time out in 15 months,” said W&M head coach Julie Shackford. “Both individual and team defending was great and our work rate was great. We have some work to do in the attack, but I felt good for our first time out against a team with three games under their belts.”
W&M sophomore goalkeeper Zoe Doughty registered four saves in her first collegiate start in net.
The Tribe (0-0-1) outshot VCU 10-6 in the second half, breaking through on Puskar’s goal in the 79th minute. VCU (3-0-1) answered just under three minutes later.
The Tribe returns to action in two weeks when it travels to Charleston for its first Colonial Athletic Association match of the season on Saturday, March 13, at noon.
Women’s tennis junior Saric picks up top-40 singles win at ODU
William & Mary women’s tennis junior Mila Saric knocked off a national top-40 singles opponent Saturday at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center while the Green and Gold (0-2) suffered a 6-1 setback at Old Dominion University (3-4) in dual-match action.
After dropping the opening set, 6-2, at the top singles spot to No. 40-ranked Holly Hutchinson, Saric responded with a 7-5 victory in the second to force a decisive final set. The Tribe junior overwhelmed her nationally-ranked counterpart in the third-set super tiebreaker, 10-3.
It marked the third ranked win in Saric’s career and highest-rated foe that she has defeated.
The Tribe is back in action when it travels to Liberty University on Saturday for a 1 p.m. match. The following day, W&M will host a Sunday doubleheader against Norfolk State University (11 a.m.) and Towson University (2 p.m.) at the Millie West Tennis Facility, weather permitting.
Men’s soccer drops spring opener to ODU
William & Mary men’s soccer dominated the scoring opportunities but fell to Old Dominion 1-0 in both teams’ spring season opener on Sunday afternoon at the Dillard Complex.
The ODU Monarchs’ Josh Thaler scored the game’s winning goal off a rebound from a corner kick in the 31st minute.
The Green and Gold (0-1) outshot the visitors, 15-7.
The Tribe travels to George Mason University on Saturday for a 2 p.m. kickoff.
Lax falls to Richmond
The William & Mary lacrosse team led No. 18/19 Richmond in the second half but was edged by the Spiders, 14-11, in its home opener at Busch Turf on Saturday afternoon.
Kathleen Cozzi led the Tribe with three points (2g, 1a), while Belle Martire, Sarah Cipolla and Anne Milwicz recorded two goals apiece.
W&M will return to action when it plays at Longwood University next Saturday at 2 p.m.
Men’s, women’s track & field conclude indoor season
The William & Mary men’s track & field team won six of the nine events Sunday at the Mason Winter Track Fiesta to close out the indoor track & field season in dominating fashion, while the women’s track & field team capped off its indoor season Saturday, winning two events on the day out of eight it competed in.
Friday, cross country races at the CAA Championships at University of North Carolina Wilmington. The outdoor track & field season will get underway in late March.
Women’s Volleyball opens 2-0
William & Mary Women’s Volleyball rode a full team performance to sweep Elon University on Saturday night in Kaplan Arena to kick off the season.
The Tribe will look to ride the momentum next weekend in a pair of matches in Charleston.
Tribe baseball winless in opening weekend
William & Mary got home runs from senior Tyler Solomon and freshman Nic Britt but it was not enough to overcome an offensive onslaught from Charlotte as the 49ers took the final match of the three-game set 20-4 Sunday afternoon.
The Tribe dropped both games of the season-opening doubleheader Saturday afternoon in Charlotte, 7-1 and 4-0.
William & Mary will look to rebound with a trio of games against in-state rivals next weekend, hosting Richmond for its home-opener Friday at 4 p.m. and George Mason on Saturday at Plumeri Park.
The Tribe will finish the weekend with a Sunday matinee at VCU in Richmond.
Men’s Gymnastics defeats Springfeld in virtual meet
The W&M men’s gymnastics team defeated Springfield, 380.8-370.1, in a virtual meet at Williamsburg Gymnastics Sunday afternoon.
W&M won five of the six events en route to posting its second-best score of the season.
The Tribe returns to action Saturday when it hosts top-ranked Oklahoma for Senior Day, 1 p.m. at Kaplan Arena.
