The William & Mary field hockey team is gearing up for an exciting start to the 2024 season with a pair of matches on the opening weekend. The Tribe will face off against national semifinalist and No. 5-ranked Duke on Friday, August 30th, followed by their home opener against Richmond on Sunday, September 1st. The season-opener at Duke will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra, while the match with Richmond will be available on FloLive.
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all fans, William & Mary Athletics has implemented a clear bag policy for all their facilities, including Busch Field where the field hockey team plays. This policy regulates the size and type of bags that may be carried into the venue. More information on approved and prohibited items can be found on the Tribe Athletics website.
In preseason polls, the Tribe was picked second in the CAA along with Drexel, with both teams receiving 28 points and two first-place votes. Monmouth was chosen as the preseason favorite with 32 points and three first-place votes. Graduate student goalkeeper Maddie George and senior midfielder Pyper Friedman were named to the preseason All-CAA team, with sophomore Josie Mae Gruendel receiving an honorable mention.
Last season, William & Mary clinched the program’s second CAA title with a thrilling 3-2 double overtime victory over Monmouth in the championship game. The team finished the season with a 12-9 record, including an NCAA Opening Round win over MAAC Champion Sacred Heart.
Several players from the Tribe participated in the 2024 Senior Nexus Championship, showcasing their skills alongside other elite collegiate and post-collegiate athletes. Maddie George, Pyper Friedman, Kellen Richbourg, Emme Schwartz, and Josie Mae Gruendel represented William & Mary at the event.
Maddie George, in her fifth season with the Tribe, is one of the program’s top all-time goalkeepers, ranking in various statistical categories. Pyper Friedman, a Third Team All-American last season, was instrumental in the team’s postseason success with 24 points and standout performances in key matches.
The upcoming match against Richmond holds special significance as the Spiders‘ coaching staff has strong ties to William & Mary. Duke, the Tribe’s first opponent of the season, leads the all-time series, but William & Mary secured a victory in their last meeting in 2022. The Tribe also holds the advantage in the all-time series against Richmond.
William & Mary’s non-conference schedule is packed with challenging matchups against nationally-ranked opponents, including Virginia, Duke, Harvard, Liberty, and Old Dominion. With a talented roster and a history of success, the Tribe is poised for an exciting and competitive season ahead.