William and Mary Tribe women squeeze 1-0 win over Syracuse in season opener

The William and Mary Tribe women’s soccer team started its season off on a winning note, beating the Syracuse Orange, 1-0, at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field. With the win, the College starts the season off with a record of 1-0, while the Orange falls to 0-1.

[Box Score]

Senior Danielle Axenfeld scored the game-winner for the Green and Gold off a great cross from freshman Audrey Barry. In goal, sophomore Katherine Yount started her first career game, posting a shutout while making a pair of saves.

In the first half, both teams showed some rust in their first games of their respective season, but after a few minutes the action picked up. The College had numerous offensive chances off set pieces in the first frame, but was unable to capitalize for most of the half.

On its fifth shot of the first 45 minutes, the Tribe was able to get on the scoreboard. On the attack in the 42nd minute, Barry made a nice run down the right side of the box, sending in a cross to the left front. Cutting in front of a Syracuse defender was Axenfeld, who finished beautifully with her head, beating the keeper in the top left corner. Axenfeld’s third career goal gave W&M a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

In the first half, the Tribe controlled possession, taking the game to the Orange. In total, the College out-shot SU 5-2 in the first frame, with two of those shots going on goal.

In the second half, the story would be the Tribe’s defense and the play of Yount in goal. Syracuse turned up its attack in the final frame, out-shooting the College, 6-2.

The pivotal point of the half came in the 74th minute, with the Orange on the attack, looking for the game-tying score. Charging into the box for Syracuse was sophomore Tina Romagnuolo, drawing a yellow card on the Tribe when fell to the field, drawing a penalty kick for the Orange.

Romagnuolo stepped up to take the kick for SU, firing the ball just left of the keeper, but Yount would make a great save, deflecting the ball back in to play and keeping the score 1-0 in favor of William and Mary.

The Tribe’s defense would hold the rest of the way and the College was able to start the season with a hard-fought, 1-0 victory over Syracuse.

The William and Mary Tribe women’s soccer team will head to State College, Pennsylvania next week to participate in the Penn State Invitational. The Tribe will play Connecticut on Friday, August 27 before facing the #13-ranked Nittany Lions on Sunday, August 29.