Blistering Second Half Propels Tribe to Shutout Win over Fairfield

W&M scored four second-half goals on its way to a 5-0 win.

08/26/07 3:25PM

Williamsburg - For the second straight day, the William and Mary field hockey team used a blistering second-half scoring outburst on an equally hot and humid day in Williamsburg to defeat America East foe Fairfield, 5-0. The Tribe notched four second-half goals and received a quartet of tallies from underclassmen in the victory. The College upped its mark to 2-0 in the opening weekend of the 2007 campaign.

W&M had its first quality scoring chance early in the first half. Sophomore Wesley Drew sent a leading pass down the left side of the field to redshirt freshman Alexis Gerber, who made spin move to get free. The Berwyn, Pa., native sent a shot toward the left post that beat the Fairfield goalkeeper. Stag defender Michelle Onofrio got back to block the ball, but did so with her feet resulting in a Tribe penalty stroke. On the stroke, FU’s Elizabeth Thomas made a nice diving save to deny senior Laura Kastelic and keep the match scoreless in the fifth minute.

Freshman forward Rebecca Wagner continued the torrid start to her rookie season with the Tribe, scoring the eventual game-winner at the 23:44 mark of the opening half. Gerber set Wagner up, penetrating the left side of the circle before flipping a pass along the goal mouth. Wagner finished into the right side of the boards for her third goal in the opening two games of the season.

It appeared the reverse combination would give the Tribe a 2-0 lead with eight minutes remaining in the first half. Wagner centered a pass from right to left finding Gerber, who punched it into the boards, but the referee whistled a foul before the goal to nullify the scoring opportunity.

The Tribe finally broke through for its 2-0 lead just over 10 minutes into the second half. After junior forward Lauren Giles had a shot saved by the Stag goalkeeper, the College earned a penalty corner. On the ensuing corner, senior Kim Hedley sent a short pass to Kastelic, who ripped a shot into the right side of the cage. It was Kastelic’s first tally of the season.

Gerber finally found the boards for her first collegiate goal in the 50th minute. Drew found Giles on the right side of the area after some nice stick work in the middle of the field. Giles lifted a pass toward the left post, and Gerber punched it across. It was Giles second assist in as many games.

Sophomore Sarah Louie made it 4-0 at 56:56 mark with her first goal of the season. She redirected a shot from Drew into the left side of the cage. Drew took the initial attempt from the left side area before Louie’s redirection. It was the first assist in Drew’s Tribe career.

Sophomore Kaitlin Johnson scored the first goal of her collegiate career less than three minutes later. Hedley carried the ball down the right flank before centering a pass to freshman Jenna Cinalli. Cinalli's attempt on cage was stopped by the Stag goalkeeper, but Johnson pounced on the rebound and pushed the ball across for the score.

Senior goalkeeper Gwen Hunter made two saves in 63 minutes of action, before giving way to redshirt freshman Carrie Thompson, who saw the first playing time of her W&M career. Kastelic and Cinalli both finished with defensive saves in the Tribe’s shutout effort. The College dominated the stat sheet, outshooting Fairfield, 19-5, including a 13-1 cushion in the second half. W&M also held the penalty corner advantage, 6-2.

The Tribe will return to action over Labor Day weekend when it travels to Durham, N.C., to battled No. 4 Duke and No. 10 Iowa. The Tribe will face the Blue Devils, who have advanced to each of the last four NCAA Final Fours, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 1, before meeting the Hawkeyes for the first time on Monday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m.

Box Score