W&M Field Hockey Defeats Villanova, 4-3

09/10/04 9:37PM

WILLIAMSBURG, VA - William and Mary and Villanova combined for six goals in the first half, but it was the only goal of the second, scored by Tribe sophomore forward Gina Cimarelli (Oak Hill, VA), that made the difference, as W&M’s field hockey team defeated the Wildcats, 4-3, this evening on Busch Field.

The victory improves the Tribe’s record to 4-1 on the year, while Villanova falls to 2-2 this season.

The Green and Gold offense came out the gates on fire, giving the Tribe a 3-0 lead just 12 minutes into the game. Junior midfielder Shannon Karl (Centreville, VA) set up the first goal, dishing the ball off to junior forward Kelly Giles (Williamsburg, VA) for a 1-0 lead less than eight minutes into the contest. The College took a 2-0 lead in the 11th minute on a penalty corner, with senior midfielder Jill Hocutt (Wilmington, DE) setting up the play when her initial shot bounced off the left post. Senior forward Kate Baird (Lismore, Australia) was there to collect the rebound, passing to senior forward Ginny Sutton (Richmond, VA) who put the ball in the cage. Sutton scored again on an unassisted goal just 90 seconds later, beating a Villanova defender to give W&M a 3-0 lead.

However, the Wildcats soon recovered with three penalty corner goals of their own over the rest of the period to tie the contest. Megan Foster put Villanova on the board from the right side in the 20th minute, with Lauren Campanelli and Vanessa Pizzulli recording assists on the play. Rory Rogers put in a shot in the 28th minute for the Wildcats’ second goal, before Foster tied the game with two minutes left in the period, again on a stop by Campanelli and pass from Pizzulli.

Just 2:38 into the second half, Cimarelli scored the eventual game-winner, as she picked up another shot off the post by Hocutt for her first goal of the season.

Senior Heather Kibbee (Leucadia, CA) started the game in goal for the Tribe, making three saves in the first half. Freshman keeper Gwen Hunter (Seaville, NJ) came on at the break, making one save in a scoreless second half. Erin Scott played the entire game in the cage for the Wildcats, making eight saves.

W&M outshot Villanova, 17-8 in the game, including a 10-2 advantage in the second half, and held a 10-8 lead in penalty corners.

The Tribe will return to action on Busch Field Sunday, September 12 at 2:00 PM for a matchup against Richmond. Villanova’s next contest will be Wednesday, September 15 at West Chester.

Game Notes: W&M improves to 6-1-0 all-time in the series against Villanova ... The goal for Gina Cimarelli was the first game-winner of her career ... Ginny Sutton recorded the second multi-goal game of her career ... Sutton leads the team in scoring with 10 points on four goals and two assists and has scored a goal or an assist in four of the five games this season ... Gwen Hunter lowered her goals against average to 0.62 this season ... Villanova head coach Joanie Q. Milhous is a 1991 graduate of W&M and played for current Tribe head coach Peel Hawthorne in her first four seasons leading the Green and Gold.

Box Score