WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Junior goalkeeper Rachel Vellis had a season-high nine saves in net, but the Long Island University field hockey team closed out its Virginia road trip with a 2-0 set back at No. 25 William & Mary on Sunday.
 
Behind Vellis' nine saves, the defense did not allow the Tribe to score on any of the six penalty corners they had. Offensively, senior Taylor Brodsky, junior Sammy Bell, and freshman Alexis Ruiz all had a shot on goal. The Sharks' also had three offensive penalty corners on the day.
 
The Tribe did not waste time taking shots on goal, as Vellis made three saves in the opening five minutes of the game. Bell had the first scoring opportunity for the Sharks, but her shot missed wide to the right. The defense continued to play a strong opening quarter which ended with a successfully defended penalty corner to keep the game scoreless.
 
William & Mary continued to pressure early in the second quarter with two shots, followed by a penalty corner where the shot missed wide. After Vellis' fourth save of the day, the Sharks' offense had an opportunity with its first penalty corner. Bell took a shot off the corner, but the Pride goalkeeper made the save.
 
The Pride break open the scoreless tie in the 26^th minute of the game, and would maintain the 1-0 advantage going into halftime.
 
The Sharks' offense drew another penalty corner early in the third quarter, but Brodsky's shot was blocked. William & Mary would extend its lead to two after capitalizing on a penalty stroke opportunity. The Tribe would try to add to its lead with back-to-back penalty corner opportunities, but the first shot was blocked and the shot off the second corner was saved by Vellis.
 
LIU continued to fight and had another offensive penalty corner early in the fourth quarter, where Brodsky's initial shot was saved, followed by Ruiz's shot which was also saved. Vellis did not allow the Tribe to score for the remainder of the game, and had two more saves between the pipes. Sophomore Mishkah van Rooyen had the last scoring opportunity of the game for the Sharks, but her shot missed wide right.
 
The Sharks are on the road again next Sunday, September 15 with a trip to Philadelphia, Pa. to take on La Salle University. Game time against the Explorers is set for 12:00 pm.