Samantha Cordum lifts Wiliam & Mary to 3-1 win over Northeastern

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Via Wiliam & Mary) – Senior Samantha Cordum netted her first career hat trick to lead the Tribe women’s soccer team to a 3-1 victory over two-time defending Colonial Athletic Association champion Northeastern on Sunday afternoon at Martin Family Stadium. With the win, the Tribe improves to 7-3-1, 1-1-0 in CAA play, while the Huskies drop to 7-4-1, 0-1-1 in league action.

Northeastern jumped on the attack right out of the gates, and had a shot on goal just three minutes into the match. Hannah Lopiccolo was able to put a shot on frame, but senior goalkeeper Caroline Casey made the save for the Tribe.

Despite the early Northeastern, shot the Tribe scored on its first chance of the game. Cordum was able to out a run a Huskie defender and get into the box for a one-versus-one against the goalie. The senior placed her shot into the top left corner to lift the Tribe to a 1-0 lead.

In the 60th minute, W&M doubled its lead. Sophomore Sami Grasso sent a through ball that set Cordum free. Again in the middle of the box, this time Cordum fired a shot into the lower left corner, pushing the Tribe lead to 2-0.

The Huskies began picking up their attack following the second goal, and were able to cut the score back to a single goal in the 65th minute. Off of a corner kick, Breeana Koemans found Valent Soares Gache’s head in the box. Soares Gache directed the ball into the back of the net, cutting the score to 2-1.

NU responded with four shots in a seven minute stretch looking for the equalizer. The first came in the 67th minute when Soares Gache put one on frame that was saved by Casey. Off of a corner kick, Kimberly Slade sailed a shot, before Lopiccolo missed high in the 69th minute. The final chance came in the 74th minute when Koemans put one on frame that was saved by Casey.

The Green and Gold removed all doubt with Cordum’s hat trick goal. With Northeastern pushing forward, junior Clara Logsdon sent a through ball that again set Cordum free. The Boise, Idaho native then lofted the ball over the keeper, before tapping into the empty net. Her seventh goal of the season, secured the Tribe’s 3-1 victory.

Despite the result, Northeastern out shot the Tribe by a 12-6 margin, which included a 5-4 margin in shots on-goal. Cordum recorded five of the Tribe’s six shots, while senior Nicole Baxter had the only other W&M shot.

Casey turned in five saves in her seventh victory of the year. She continued to shorten the gap for second place all-time in school history for saves. The Chesapeake, Virginia native is now just 17 saves away from second place.

W&M hits the road as the continue conference play with just one game next weekend. The Tribe travels to Elon for a match on Friday, Oct. 2. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.