By David Rogers. WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (remote) — A slick-passing William & Mary women’s soccer team, along with its physically aggressive defense, upended visiting App State hopes of extending an unblemished, early season record. With goals in each half, The Tribe defeated the Mountainers, 2-0, in Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field, in front of more than 300 soccer fans.
App State mostly controlled possession for the first seven minutes of play on Aug. 24, but momentum shifted and The Tribe gained the upper hand by being first to the ball and executing deft, one- and two-touch passes to work the ball up the field, offensively, a model they executed for most of the match.
In the 54th minute, App State’s redshirt freshman goalkeeper, Anna Claire Jacobi, rushed out to smother a Tribe attack near the left front corner of the penalty box, but with Jacobi on the ground in what can only be described as a muddle involving Jacobi, W & M’s Molly Widderich and the Tribe’s Ivey Crain, the ball slipped out toward the center. An opportunistic Crain jumped out of the pile and used her speed to push the ball ahead. into space, and nudged it into the unprotected goal for the game’s first score.
Then, with just 15 minutes remaining in the second half, Tribe midfielder Lindsay Wilson corralled a pass from from the right side, dribbled left, and ripped a shot just inside the left post, mere fractions of an inch beyond the outstretched arms of a diving Jacobi, for William & Mary’s second and final goal of the day.
Many of William & Mary’s attack opportunities resulted in offsides calls. Much to the displeasure of a vocal group of fans in the grandstands, The Tribe was whistled for offsides nine times vs. just once by the Mountaineers.
According to LiveStats, App State controlled possession 69 percent of the time, vs. 31 percent by their hosts — but The Tribe simply did more with their opportunities, including holding a 13-10 advantage in shots.
Now 3-1 on the young season, App State will try to recover with another meeting against an ACC opponent, at Clemson on Sunday, Aug. 31. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
William & Mary improves to 1-2-1 with the win. They will travel to James Madison for an in-state rivalry game on Thursday, Aug. 28, with a 6 p.m. start time.
