W&M Field Hockey Wins Fourth-Straight, Defeats Hofstra 5-2

Tribe's Ann Ekberg gets Second-Straight Hat Trick, Third in Four Games

10/19/02

WILLIAMSBURG, VA - With three goals and an assist Tribe senior forward Ann Ekberg (Virginia Beach, VA) recorded her second consecutive hat trick and third in her last four games, leading William and Mary’s field hockey team to a 5-2 win over Hofstra this evening at Busch Field. The Tribe’s record improves to 7-7 (3-1 CAA), while the Pride falls to 9-6 (1-3 CAA). The win was the College’s third-straight against Colonial Athletic Association opponents and fourth consecutive overall as W&M strengthened its hold on second place in the league standings.

Less than 15 minutes into the game Ekberg gave the Tribe a 1-0 lead, deflecting senior defender Jessica Nixon’s (Haddonfield, NJ) shot on a penalty corner. Two minutes later Ekberg stole the ball from a Hofstra defender and passed to junior forward Jordan Steele (Williamsburg, VA) on the right side, who scored the Tribe’s second goal of the game. Just 90 seconds after that the Pride scored on a penalty corner, as Shannon Watson tipped the ball to Tricia-Ann Greaves who cut the W&M lead to 2-1. Just before the end of the half Ekberg brought the Tribe’s lead back to one as she took the rebound of senior defender Julie Zoolkoski’s (Mountaintop, PA) shot and sent it back past Hofstra goalkeeper Christine Hickey for her second score of the evening.

W&M took a 4-1 lead just over four minutes into the second period as Nixon converted a penalty stroke. Ekberg scored the Tribe’s final goal of the night in the 52nd minute, this time putting away the rebound of Nixon’s shot bringing the score to 5-1 in favor of the Green and Gold. Hofstra’s final goal of the game came with just 48 seconds left as Watson put away a rebounded penalty corner.

The Tribe held a commanding 35-9 shot advantage in the game and also had an 11-7 lead in penalty corners.

With her fourth-straight outstanding offensive performance, Ekberg became just the fourth player in school history to total 100 career points. With 31 points this season she moves into a tie for tenth-place at W&M in that category and she ties three other Tribe players for seventh with her 14 goals on the year.

William and Mary returns to action next weekend with a pair of CAA road games, taking on Delaware Friday at 7:00 PM and facing Towson Sunday at 1:00 PM.