WILLIAMSBURG — The following is a roundup of this past weekend in William & Mary sports:
Football:
The Tribe prevailed in a close 34-31 win against Elon University on Sept. 25 at Rhodes Stadium. The away victory launches W&M into their best four-game start since 2014.
The defense seemed to pick up right where they left off last week as they kept the home team without any points in the first quarter.
Donavyn Lester would run the ball in for the first touchdown (TD) of the game. After a successful Ethan Chang kick, the score would be 7-0 at 13:33 left in the quarter.
The next TD came from a 46 yard run by Quarterback Darius Wilson. Wilson ended the game with 293 total yards and three touchdowns. Chang capitalized on the 3 play, 93-yard drive with a successful field goal. The score became 14-0 to close out the 1st quarter.
The Tribe was able to increase their lead early in the second quarter to make it 21-0. Wilson found Lachlan Pitts for a 6-yard pass. Chang’s kick was good and the game became a 3 score lead with W&M in front.
Elon’s response came late in the second quarter. Quarterback Davis Cheek marked Kortez Weeks with a 17-yard pass. The Phoenix kicker Skyler Davis was successful. The score became 21-7 with 3:16 on the clock.
The home team was able to get another TD on the board with 2:17 left in the quarter. Jaylan Thomas found his way with a 6-yard run. Skyler’s kick was good, and just like that game became a 1-score game. 21-14 with W&M holding on to the lead at the end of the 2nd quarter.
The W&M defense stepped up in the second half and held Elon to a scoreless 3rd quarter. The only points placed on the board would come from a 10-yard pass from Wilson to Lachlan Pitts. After a 6 play, 70-yard drive the score was 27-14 by the end of the quarter.
Elon made every effort they could for a comeback in the 4th quarter. The phoenix was able to set their kicker up for a successful field goal to jumpstart life back into the home team. The Davis kick was good and the score became 27-17.
Another successful Elon drive ended with a 19-yard pass from Cheek to Bryson Daughtry. Davis had a successful kick and the score became a close 27-24.
With 6:36 left on the clock, DreSean Kendrick threw a 29 yard-pass to Cole Blackman. Chang was there to capitalize on the 6 play, 60-yard drive to increase their lead against the home team that was finding their way back. 34-24.
Elon was able to make the game within a 3-point margin but did not have enough time left to get another on the board. Cheek found Thomas for a successful 20-yard pass and Skyler’s kick was successful. The 7-play 90 yard drive would be the last time Elon was able to put points on the board before the end of the game.
W&M held on to a hard-fought victory, 34-31.
The football team’s next game is going to be on Oct. 9 at Home vs University at Albany at 3:30 p.m.
Women’s Soccer:
The women’s soccer team ended a long afternoon on the pitch with an overtime goal that gave them a 1-0 victory against the College of Charleston on Sept. 26.
The golden goal play was a team effort. The winning play began when defender Page Frantz won the ball in midfield. Frantz sent it to sophomore Elaina Longjohn, who redirected a pass toward the right end line hitting senior Addie Puskar. The senior sent a cross towards the center goal and the ball deflected off a Charleston defender and into the goal to give the visitors a 1-0 win.
A strong performance came from the W&M backline. Sophomores Nicole Sellers and Ginny Delacruz and freshman Riley Friesen and Emma D’Alesandro along with sophomore goalkeeper Grace Lemley helped award the Tribe with a clean sheet at the end of the game.
The women’s soccer team’s next game will be on Oct. 3 away vs Townson University at 1 p.m.
Field Hockey:
W&M field suffered a 3-1 loss on Sept. 26 against the number 19 ranked Duke University.
Two late goals from the Blue Devils in the 4th quarter would make the difference as W&M searched for an opportunity to come ahead.
The Tribe outshot Duke 4-1 in the first quarter but their efforts were not rewarded. The first quarter ended scoreless for both sides 0-0.
Duke’s Logan Clouser found the back of the net in the second quarter to give the Blue Devils a 1-0 lead.
W&M found their equalizer in the third quarter. Audrey Domovich centered a pass to Lauren Curran who scored inside the near post to tie the match. The teams were tied 1-1 to close out the third quarter.
The Tribe goalkeeper Maddie George was able to stop a Duke Penalty Stroke in the opening half. However, during the fourth quarter, Duke’s Lexi Davidson was able to find one in the back of the net. The score became 2-1.
Duke was able to score again 1:17 later on a quick counter to extend its lead to two points. The final score was 3-1.
W&M’s next game will be at home vs Hofstra University on Friday, Oct. 1 at 6 p.m.
Women’s Tennis
Senior Mila Saric and junior Raffaela Alhach both took home singles wins at the Kitty Harrison Invitational on Sept. 26.
Alhach recorded a 6-1, 6-2 victory over North Carolina’s Sara McClure in consolation rounds of the Kenfield Singles Draw.
Saric improved to 3-1 at the event and 5-1 overall by winning the consolation side of the Carolina Singles Draw. After dropping her first match in three sets on Friday, Saric won three straight, including a straight-sets win over Ariana Arseneault of Auburn University, 7-6 (5), 7-5 on Sunday.
The Tribe looks forward to taking part in the ITA Atlantic Regional Qualifying, Oct. 1-4 at Liberty University.
