Baxter’s four-point day lifts William & Mary women’s soccer past No. 25 Georgetown 3-0

HARRISONBURG, Va. (Via William & Mary) – Senior Nicole Baxter recorded four points as the William & Mary women’s soccer team knocked off No. 25 Georgetown 3-0 on Sunday afternoon in Harrisonburg, Virginia. With the win, the Tribe won the 2015 Fairfield Inn by Marriott JMU Invite, while the Hoyas fall to 1-1 on the young season.

“We played very well against a good team,” head coach John Daly said. “We were very strong defensively and threatened frequently. Nicole turned in the man of the match performance with two assists and a penalty. Caroline made a spectacular save at 2-0, which could be viewed as a game-winning save.”

Joining Baxter in the score column was sophomore Rachel Moore and senior Samantha Cordum. Moore was credited with her second straight game-winning goal.

No. 25 Georgetown came out of the gates quickly with a pair of corner kicks in the first two minutes, putting a shot on target. On the first corner Rachel Corboz found Taylor Pak for a shot, but senior goalkeeper Caroline Casey was there for the stop.

W&M struck first, however, with a goal in the ninth minute. Baxter sent a ball over the top of the Hoya defense that found the head of Moore, who placed it to the left corner of the goal. Moore’s second tally of the year, pushed the Tribe to a 1-0 lead.

The Tribe continued to mount its pressure and had a chance moments after taking the lead. In the 14th minute, Cordum put a shot on target, but Georgetown goalie Emma Newins was there for the stop.

W&M doubled its lead right before the half on a penalty kick. After a foul in the box, Baxter lined up her PK chance and buried the shot, lifting the Tribe to a 2-0 advantage.

Despite holding the lead, W&M was outshot by Georgetown. The Hoyas held a 7-4 advantage in shots, but the Tribe had the advantage in shots on goal, 3-1.

The Hoyas came out of the gates firing in the second half. In the 49th minute, Grace Damaska had a chance and launched a shot towards frame, but Casey made the stop for the Tribe. Again in the 55th minute, Casey came up with another save on a shot from Marina Paul off of a corner kick.

W&M put the exclamation point on the victory with a goal in the 79th minute. Baxter sent a through ball down the middle of the pitch that found Cordum, who beat the Georgetown defense, and rocketed a shot into the back of the net. Her second goal of the season lifted the Tribe to 3-0 lead.

Despite the difference in score, Georgetown did outshoot the Tribe in the match, 17-6, including a 5-4 advantage in shots on goal. Cordum led the Green and Gold in shots with three for the day.

Casey was strong in goal and recorded her first shutout of the season, while recording five saves. With the shutout she is now just four shutouts away from entering the top five in that category in school history, while she now just needs 19 saves to enter the top five in school history in saves.

With the victory, W&M improved to 2-0 on the season for the first time since the 2011 season. It was also the Tribe’s first victory over a ranked opponent since Sept. 2, 2011 when they knocked off No. 13 Georgetown 3-1.