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VOLUME 97 | ISSUE 11
December 1, 2023
Virginia Department of Education approves Academy of Technology and Innovation at UMW’s Stafford campus
Harriet King Staff Writer The Virginia Department of Education voted to approve the establishment of the Academy of Technology and Innovation at the University of Mary Washington on Nov. 14. The regional high school, which will be located at UMW’s Stafford Campus, was created to be a unique institution focusing on computer and data science. The Academy, which is open to students in Fredericksburg City, as well as Caroline, Stafford and King George counties, is scheduled to open its doors in the fall of 2024. Responding to the approval of the Academy in an interview for UMW Voice, UMW Provost Tim O’Donnell said, “It’s a testament to the commitment and hard work of the many individuals across the region who have come together to create the vision for [the Academy], and we’re happy to be collaborating with them on this and so many other opportunities to improve K-12 education in the Fredericksburg region.” More than offering an education to high school students, the Academy is also intended to serve as an opportunity for UMW College of Education students to engage in real-world teaching scenarios. However, many UMW students are not yet aware of the Academy. “I was confused… I had not heard anything about the high school,” said senior elementary education major Francesca Harrison. “I think more people should know
The Academy of Technology and Innovation is scheduled to open its doors in the fall of 2024.
about it, since STEM is a big focus in all of education.” Executive Director of University Communications Amy Jessee wrote in UMW Voice that the Academy will aim to create a “teaching incubator for educators.” Some education students are interested in the potential opportunities that could come with a UMW-affiliated high school. “I would definitely be interested in getting a TA position so close to campus and it would be so convenient,” said junior elementary education major Conner Rodgers. “I think it would provide new experiences for education majors, allowing them to work with professors and other teachers in the field to better understand the workings of being a teacher.” According to UMW Voice, the partnership between the public school districts and the University of Mary Washington’s College of Education allows for a specialized learning environment for students interested in the computer sciences, including cybersecurity, data science and other fields. The Academy will open to 100 rising high school freshmen who intend to complete their studies with a concentration in the aforementioned fields, according to UMW Voice. The application opened to rising ninth graders on Nov. 15, and it closes in early January. After that, the selection process is a lottery that will determine who enrolls. The Academy will be located at UMW’s Stafford Campus. The Academy will be free to attend and relies upon Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer state funding and investments from UMW to operate.
|2 INSIDE News Guest speaker
THE
RINGER
discusses Jewish texts and culture
Opinion | 3
Students voice complaints about struggling to connect to campus Wi-Fi
Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
In 2022, UMW and Stafford Public Schools received the first funds to create the Academy, which came via the College Partnership Laboratory School Planning Grant from the Virginia Department of Education for $200,000. Harrison described her thoughts about the timing of this project. “I think it makes sense for UMW to be a sponsor since we added the data science major, however, with all of the updates to campus such as Ball Circle, more parking and the new theater that’s being built, I think money should not be heavily invested in one over the other. It should all be equal, same goes for the school,” said Harrison. Junior computer science and mathematics double-major Katie Heyn also shared her perspective about the Academy opening. “I personally think it is a good use of resources and time because it is going to hopefully expand the computer science department and attract more high schoolers to UMW,” she said. “This opportunity is super cool because computer science is not commonly found in high schools, especially where I came from because my high school was the only one in my district that offered computer science courses,” said Heyn. “This opportunity allows students to take a dip in computer science and see if it’s something they want to pursue before college which is super useful.”
Life | 4
Park Dae Sung’s Korean ink paintings present in UMW galleries
Sports | 8
UMW Men’s Soccer wraps up season after NCAA tournament
News
Friday, December 1, 2023
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Weekly Ringer UMW welcomes Elizabeth Shanks Alexander The
Editorial Staff
Editor-in-Chief Norah Walsh weeklyringer.eic@gmail.com Associate Editors Callie Harkins Emma Brennan weeklyringer.associate@gmail.com News Editor Ky Huynh weeklyringer.news@gmail.com Opinion Editor Margaret Jackson weeklyringer.opinion@gmail.com Life Editor Charlie Li weeklyringer.life@gmail.com Sports Editor Abbey Magnet weeklyringer.sports@gmail.com Online Editor Davy Washington weeklyringer.online@gmail.com Photography Editor Abbey Magnet weeklyringer.photos@gmail.com Faculty Advisor Lindley Estes lestes@umw.edu
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Corrections
Please report any corrections to Norah Walsh at weeklyringer.eic@gmail.com or Lindley Estes at lestes@umw.edu In the article “Jesse Q. Sutano captivates readers by blending murder, comedy and mystery into a masterpiece” from Oct. 6, Sutano’s first name was mispelled in the headline. This correction has been reflected in the online version. In the Nov. 9 article by Kelly Hernley, the writer’s name was mispelled in the byline. This correction has been reflected in the online version.
Bell tower logo designed by Bernadette D’Auria ‘22
to discuss topics of Jewish texts and culture
Mel Lamm Staff Writer On Wednesday, Nov. 15, UMW hosted Dr. Elizabeth Shanks Alexander, a professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia. She was welcomed as a guest speaker for the Jewish Cultural Celebration that took place in Chandler Ballroom at the University Center. The Jewish Cultural Celebration was organized by senior history major and President of the Jewish Student Association Logan Kurtz who commented on the intentions behind this year’s celebration. “I wanted the Jewish Cultural Celebration this year to have an emphasis of Jewish identity,” said Kurtz. “How Judaism is more meaningful than just uniting against the hate of antisemitism.” Alexander started her speech with the basics of Judaism and The Torah. The Torah, or “the instructions,” as she described them, is the centerpiece of Jewish identity dating back to around 500 B.C.E. She also introduced the Talmud, which consists of 63 volumes of “conversations and discussions” of the Torah and its teachings that were conducted just over 1000 years after the compilation of the Torah itself.
“I wanted the Jewish Cultural Celebration this year to have an emphasis of Jewish identity.” - Logan Kurtz During her lecture, she pulled a passage from Genesis Rabbah 8:14, which describes the world above and the world below, referencing angels, beasts and their resembling characteristics to humans in the ways we are alike and different from each other. Angels, for instance, stand upright, speak, see and understand, and they are also created in the image of the likeness of God, just as humans are. However, they are in stasis, which means that they do not live or die. Instead, they multiply and live forever, which means they do not grow or develop in any physical way. According to Alexander, humans also have attributes that are associated with beasts. She explained how beasts eat, drink, are fruitful and multiply. But, as Alexander explained, they were not created in the image of the likeness of God and are mortal. Furthermore, unlike the angels, who stand upright on two legs, the beast stands on four. “Humans share the characteristics from these two physical beings, from both the above and the below,” said Alexander. “With this, they find their meaning, their purpose in this world.”
Dr. Elizabeth Shanks Alexander is a professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
To Alexander, there are two models that can be used to explore this passage. One is how God’s creation of humans stems from taking “the good stuff from the angels and the good stuff from the beasts.” The second model is that humans are given the choice of whether they want to be more like angels or beasts. “Humans can, through their choices, be beastly or angelic,” said Alexander.
“What’s interesting in the Jewish tradition is that humans are a higher form of existence than angels in certain ways precisely because humans have the ability to choose to do God’s will.” - Elizabeth Shanks Alexander After the initial speech, Alexander accepted questions from the audience. Dr. Marion Sanford, the director of the James Farmer Multicultural Center asked, “Do humans become angels in the afterlife?” “No,” said Alexander. “What’s interesting in the Jewish tradition is that humans are a higher form of existence than angels in certain ways precisely because humans have the ability to choose to do God’s will.” Alexander explained how angels are designed to praise God and that this praise is automatic in a sense. She clarified, however, that humans have the capacity to choose to be dedicated to God and how that is now more meaningful in Jewish tradition. Freshman sociology major Rin Northedge asked Alexander to elaborate on “the relationship between women and The Torah and how it’s different [for] people in different categories.” This question aligned with Alexander’s study of the relationship between gender and Judaism. She explained that to teach a woman about The Torah is to teach her “tiflut,” which, according to Alexander, means “lewdness” in Hebrew. In other words, to teach a woman the Torah is seen as a bad thing, as she would break traditional societal boundaries.
Dr. Elizabeth Shanks Alexander presentation goes over the basics of Judaism and The Torah. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
SEE SPEAKER, PAGE 7
Friday, December 1, 2023
Opinion
Page 3
Lost in connection: Students voice complaints about struggle to connect to on-campus Wi-Fi
One of the worst times to experience connectivity issues is when registering for classes, though the issue continues to affect other uses of technology, too. “Some issues I’ve had include having slow internet speed, especially during the day of registration and losing connection while on FaceTime and Zoom,” said Choudhry. I have also experienced losing Wi-Fi connection during online registration. Right when I clicked the button to add my selected classes to the summary, the Wi-Fi signal was lost, and I was left waiting while the classes showed up as pending. The system kicked me out, so I had to log back into Banner and find all my classes again, hoping no one had taken my spot. Luckily, all the times I have tried to register for classes and this has happened I was still able to complete the registration process. However, not having a reliable WiFi connection on campus where accessing the internet is necessary for our work is far from ideal.
“Some issues I’ve had include having slow internet speed, especially during the day of registration and losing connection while on FaceTime and Zoom.” - Sasha Choudhry Ramirez argues that students, faculty and administrators shouldn’t have to rely on cellular service while studying or working on campus. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
eliana ramirez Staff Writer We have all come to rely on our laptops, cellphones and tablets for everyday work, studies and general communication. Because of that, a reliable wireless network is a crucial service that all universities should provide. Without it, students, faculty and administrators would find it difficult to complete their daily technology-reliant tasks. This is not the case at UMW, though, because the wireless networks at UMW do not work everywhere on campus. Whether I’m in my dorm, walking through the tunnel by Woodard, studying at the HCC or eating at the UC, I can’t always rely on cellular service at times when I need Wi-Fi. The main wireless network for Mary Washington is aptly called “UMW.” This network provides students, faculty, staff and administration access to the university’s main online resources as well as to the internet while they are in the university’s academic and administrative buildings. For students living on campus, their room and board fees pay for ResNet, a separate residential Wi-Fi network. For this, UMW works with the private company Apogee to provide an internet package to students. When I first attended UMW, I noticed that connecting to the Wi-Fi using the ResNet portal was extremely frustrating. Sometimes it would take what seemed like hours for my devices to connect, and when they finally did, the network would disconnect again. My experience is not unique, though, for many students on campus have experienced Wi-Fi problems at one time or another. “I remember struggling a lot connecting to the Wi-Fi the first day back to class coming back from summer vacation. It took about 3 days to finally connect to the wifi.
I thought I would eventually figure it out myself, and I guess I was really adamant about getting outside help,” said Sasha Choudhry, a sophomore political science major. According to Hall Cheshire, the chief information officer at UMW, “Apogee and UMW IT technicians cannot resolve a wifi problem if they are not aware of it.” However, with the number of problems that students face with their connection, it seems like the system as a whole should be considered rather than having to fix issues on an individual basis. Some students like Jestinus Jackson, a junior Spanish major, frequently rely on cellular data and connect their computers to their phone’s hotspot to access the internet around campus. “I have to rely on switching between my hotspot and sometimes use the Wi-Fi which is a hit or miss because all the buildings have Apogee,” said Jackson.
“I have to rely on switching between my hotspot and sometimes use the Wi-Fi which is a hit or miss because all the buildings have Apogee.” - Jestinus Jackson For Kiera Croswait, a sophomore English major, Apogee doesn’t work in her dorm. “I can only use my computer in certain areas of my apartment, and I have to connect it to the UMW Wi-Fi— not Apogee— if it works,” said Croswait. “I can’t even use the Wi-Fi on my phone; I have to disconnect from the WiFi in order to use my phone, so it’s been rough.” “As of now, I only have [Apogee Legacy Wi-Fi] in the vicinity of my residence hall,” said Choudhry. “Anywhere else I have to use data.”
Students experience varying Wi-Fi connectivity at different spots around campus. “Certain areas are better than others when it comes to wifi usage,” said Jackson. “For me it’s spotty at the UC and then also going over towards Jepson and the HCC.” UMW’s Information Technology Department, which is staffed by 24 people, is located on the bottom floor of the Hurley Convergence Center. They are ready to help the UMW community with any IT issues, including problems that arise with Wi-Fi connectivity. However, students have to report their issues because where they experience the connectivity issue will dictate who they need to contact. If students live in residence halls, they can reach out to Apogee directly, according to Cheshire. “If Apogee Support is unable to resolve an issue over the phone, they will generate a work order for an onsite Apogee Field Service Representative to meet with the student and address the problem,” said Cheshire. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi issues in administrative or academic buildings should be reported to the UMW IT Desk due to the different networks in these buildings versus campus residences. Cheshire said that Wi-Fi access points are placed in administrative, academic and residence buildings, and the overall system is updated every so often. The last update occurred in 2017, and the next update is scheduled for the spring of 2024. The upcoming update will include enhancements such as communication between a student’s devices on the same network, a guest network in the residence halls and personal Wi-Fi passwords for added security. Hopefully, the new updates will resolve some of the problems that many students, including me, are having with the wireless network. It is a pain not being able to connect to the Wi-Fi because, like many other students, most of my work is online and I need a reliable internet connection to be able to complete my work.
Friday, December 1, 2023
Life
Dear Davy: A holiday gift guide for the partner who already has everything they could desire
ping there tends to be cheaper, as it’s done by the pound, which allows you to get several items of clothing for the price of one pair of denim jeans from a high-dollar retail store. If you do your best to avoid fast fashion brands such as SHEIN, Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters, whoever you’re buying the gift for will know and appreciate the extra thought and care you put into finding their gift.
davy washington Online Editor Q: I’m in a great relationship with someone who is so hard to get gifts for. Anytime they want something, they just buy it for themselves. Do you have any advice on what I can give the person who has everything? A: For some, holiday shopping is a much more arduous task than it needs to be, but that’s not entirely surprising. Gift giving can be stressful, as you want to find the right balance between a thoughtful gift that someone will enjoy and not breaking the bank. In the spirit of the holidays and of giving out advice, I’ve worked to compile a list of gift ideas that’ll be thoughtful and useful, while also not emptying your wallet. Hopefully, some of these ideas will help spark some inspiration of what to give your holiday honey. For those who love music Over the past few years, 12” and 7” vinyl have made a resurgence, and I like to think that there’s been a reappreciation for the desire to collect vinyl and the listening experience it offers. That being said, if you have family or friends who collect records, there is a whole host of gifts you could get that they’ll love and aren’t too expensive. Purchasing vinyls has also become an inexpensive venture, as they are available to purchase at almost any thrift store. Most antique stores in Fredericksburg will also sell older vinyls for a relatively low price and even as a buyone-get-one-free deal if you’re purchasing a lot of them. As a word of caution, make sure to find out if their record player is capable of playing the 7” records, also referred to as “45’s,” as some newer players will lack that functionality. Record cleaning kits, or even just antistatic brushes, can range from $10–20, and you can find them at places like Walmart or online, such as on Amazon. There are also some big name-brand manufacturers, such as Audio Technica and Victrola, who specialize in audio equipment and are well-known for their products. Following a similar theme, if your partner is a musician and you’re trying to think about equipment they may appreciate, cables are always a need.
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For those who love the simple things It can be easy to get lost in trying to tailor to someone’s specific or niche interests and even easier to forget about the simple things most people enjoy. I find that most of the time I spend looking for something that would serve a specific use would be better spent getting something that everyone would appreciate. You could call these ‘neuDowntown Fredericksburg’s small shops offer a large variety of gifts that will be enjoyed tral’ gifts since almost anyone could enby many for the upcoming holiday. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer joy or find them useful. In finding new music or new formats for your partAs basic as it sounds, general clothing items like ner to listen to music on, you can reflect how unique and t-shirts, socks, sweatpants and jackets are items people special your partner is with a gift that reflects that. And, often need but don’t actually go out of their way to get. if you find them something new to listen to that they I know I’ve been telling myself for a while that I need might enjoy, they’ll be thanking you for it all year long. new socks, but haven’t actually taken the initiative to get more. For those who love fashion When taking the simplistic approach, what matters Clothes shopping for other people can be strenuous, most in your gift is to think of the things your partner and with there being a lot of ethical decisions when it needs. You can also get ideas by thinking back to things comes to buying clothing—such as where it’s coming from they have mentioned off-handedly. Have they mentioned and who manufactured it—you might feel like avoiding it needing small things like dish soap, laundry detergent or entirely. But, if you want to get a gift for someone who exeven new light bulbs? Those are three things right there plores fashion beyond the trends, then the Goodwill bins that would light up their day and put a smile on their face. might be the place to go. All in all, no gift that’s based on a basic necessity is too “The Bins,” as they’re often called, refer to the Goodsimple, and when you bundle together thoughtful items, will outlet located in Spotsylvania County. It’s much your gift will have a greater impact and draw out even larger compared to a traditional Goodwill, with literal more appreciation. bins of clothing items in rows occupying the store. Shop-
Art exhibition | Park Dae Sung: Ink Reimagined
Abbey Magnet Photo & Sports Editor
Opened on Oct. 26, Park Dae Sung: Ink Reimagined, which showcases traditional Korean ink paintings, will be visible to the public in both the duPont and Ridderhof Martin Galleries until Dec. 10. According to a pamphlet given out at the exhibition, Sung utilizes abstraction and natural components to create unique and visually appealing works of art that are complete with a variety of deep meanings. Prior to being displayed on the UMW campus, Sung’s work has been showcased in exhibits across the country, including the Los Angeles County Museum, Harvard University and the Korea Institute, according to Dartmouth College’s Hood Museum of Art, which also hosted an exhibit by the artist earlier this year. After attending the exhibit, I was able to conclude that beauty does not have to be made from typical 20th-century tools or use digital enhancements, but often the most incredible works are created from traditional techniques.
SEE EXHIBITION, PAGE 5
Sung’s ink paintings were revealed on Oct. 26 and will be on display until Dec. 10.
Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Friday, December 1, 2023
Life
Page 5
Ink paintings highlight fine artistry and technique
FROM EXHIBITION, PAGE 4
“Mt. Halla” (2019).
Myoung Won Kwon, a Korean calligrapher, held a calligraphy demonstration in the duPont Gallery. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
The exhibition opened with a short demonstration presented by Korean calligrapher Myoung Won Kwon. Crouching barefoot with a brush in hand, he painted Korean characters across a long canvas with a large brush. This demonstration showed the intricacy and care that calligraphy requires. Through calligraphy, artists are able to illustrate strong and intense emotions through their brushstrokes and characters.
Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Sung’s “Mt. Halla” (2019) calls the most attention to the eye, as it is one of the largest pieces in the exhibit. The ink painting takes up almost an entire wall in the Ridderhoff Gallery, and it showcases Sung’s appeal toward landscapes by displaying a graceful and detailed scenic mountain view. The attention to detail associated with this painting further demonstrates the thought and artistry behind Sung’s work. He is able to use both bold and light strokes to create the textured rock face while also managing the harshness of his strokes to prevent messy splotches of ink. The use of negative space is cleverly controlled by Sung, allowing the onlooker to imagine the movement of water in the waterfalls and the light layer of fog sweeping through the mountainous ridges above.
Gallery guests take an up-close look at “A Peacock (1 and 2)” “A Rock-Carving at Tapgok Mt. Namsan” (2012). (2022). Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
“Archaic Beauty” (2013).
Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Unlike the majority of the pieces in the galleries, this Two attendees gaze upon Park Dae Sung’s “Archaic Sung’s piece “A Rock-Carving at Tapgok Mt. Namsan” two-part work includes splashes of vibrant colors that Beauty” (2013). The detailed calligraphy at the top (2012) holds an abundance of texture that keeps the eye provide a unique and alluring energy to the exhibit. Both fits well with one of the quotes that appeared in the intrigued. Through his skillful shading techniques, Sung parts of the piece utilize pale yellow circles decorated pamphlet provided at the exhibit. In this quote, Sung is able to highlight specific details in the interior of the with swift, contrasting brushstrokes in addition to small said, “It is said that the basics of studying paintings rock’s surface. Upon looking closer at the background square designs in red. The work on the left shows a should be found in calligraphy. The ability and sense of the work, Sung painted minuscule characters in the peacock perched on a rock and facing the viewer, while of speed to compose images come through the study of bottom left-hand corner of the painting, along with a the piece on the right emphasizes the ostentatious and clerical script and cursive script. You have to learn the detailed roof on a small building situated below the rock. detailed feathers on a peacock’s tail. feeling of teasing the brush.”
Friday, December 1, 2023
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News
Friday, December 1, 2023
Page 7
Alexander discusses Hebrew language, acknowledges vulnerability of Jewish and Muslim students on campus FROM SPEAKER, PAGE 2 “When the rabbis wrote the Torah and the Talmud, it was intended to be passed from one man to another man,” said Alexander. She also explained that the Hebrew language is a highly gendered language. “In Hebrew, every single word, every single adjective, every single verb has grammatical gender,” said Alexander. “This leads to a phenomenon called ‘the default masculine.’”
“In Hebrew, every single word, every single adjective, every single verb has grammatical gender.” - Elizabeth Shanks Alexander
This means that the interpretation of the Torah can be unclear, as “he” can refer to everyone through the default masculine, or it could be interpreted as a message directed towards men. She finished by reciting a saying from the Talmud, which is translated as “it is not upon you to finish the labor, but neither are you exempt from applying yourself.” Alexander said the saying “seemed apropos when considering what it means to live in a messy world.” During her speech, Alexander commented on the political and social environment following the Israel-Hamas war and the international effects of the conflict. “I want to acknowledge the present moment in which many Jewish and Muslim students on campuses are very vulnerable,” said Alexander. “Who knew when we spoke two months ago about this event, that the idea of celebrating Jewish culture would be so imThe guest speaker event was hosted in Chandler Ballroom at the University Center. portant.” Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Crime Column Ky Huynh News Editor The Crime Column is based on UMW Police reports from Nov. 15–Nov. 27.
There has been no crime reported since The Weekly Ringer’s last publication on Nov. 17.
The 2023 Jewish Cultural Celebration introduces their major speaker. Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer
Friday, December 1, 2023
Sports
UMW Men’s Soccer wraps up season after third round in NCAA tournament HARRIET KING & ABBEY MAGNET Staff Writer & Sports Editor
back at the end and win. UMW always gets last minute goals, and once we get one it usually leads to 2 or 3 more. We just couldn’t break their defense to get that momentum.” From an on-field perspective, Berg commented on the game. “We were the better team on the day, but if the better team always won then sports wouldn’t be fun, and all credit to them considering they played exactly how they needed to to get a result against us,” said Berg. The 1–0 score may have ended the Eagles’ season, but that doesn’t take away from what they accomplished over the last few months. Mary Washington men’s soccer was ranked in the top five NCAA Division III teams all season, and they also ranked number one for two weeks. The team also performed successfully on the field in the first two rounds of the tournament. Leading up to the tournament, the Eagles took to the Battlefield on Nov. 11 where they competed in the first round of the NCAA tournament against Neumann University. In the first round, senior business administration major Josh Kirkland set the game in motion with the first and only goal of the game. Goalkeeper and junior business administration major Freddy Rogers prevented Neumann from further scoring by deflecting four shots on goal. With a successful offense and defense, the Eagles won with a final score of 3–1, allowing them to advance to the next round. Then, on Sunday, Nov. 12, the Eagles faced off against John Carroll University in the second round of the tournament. Berg started off the game strong with the first goal, followed by a second successful shot by senior business administration major Diego Guzman. After the third and final goal, which was scored by Berg, the crowd went wild, as it guaranteed the Eagles’ position in the NCAA sectional semifinals lineup with a final score of 3–2. Looking back on the season as a whole, Berg reflected on the team’s dynamic. “It was an incredible season which ended far too early, I’d say. We have a really special group of guys, both in terms of the skill on the field … and in how well we get along off it,” he said.“We faced every game with the mindset that if we just played our game and stuck together we knew there was no team better than us. It was a fantastic three months of soccer and I already can’t wait for next year.”
The stands filled with fans as the UMW Eagles warmed up on the turf, preparing for the third round of the NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championship against the Washington College Shoremen. Their 18-1-2 record was a testament to all the players’ work throughout the season, and fans were excited to see what the game would bring. Junior business major Maggie Hatton recalled the anticipation of the fans before the game. “Everyone was super hyped up and the energy was so contagious,” said Hatton. “Usually there’s some friends and a couple families of the players, but this time it was like everyone’s family, friends, and students from both schools so it was really lively. We were all just really excited because we knew it was gonna be a really good game from both sides.” The Eagles started with possession of the ball when the whistle blew at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18. They maintained possession for the majority of both halves, working the ball around the Shoremen’s strong defensive strategy of all 10 field players dropping back to mark inside the box, according to the game coverage on UMW’s Men’s Soccer website. “I want to say that it’s even but I don’t think it was, I think we had the upper hand, but they had the better defensive strategy,” said junior environmental science major Holly Anthony who attended the game. When asked about the matchup, junior starting forward and political science major Carter Berg described some of the strategies behind the game. “Washington College was a really good team with a fantastic game plan,” he said. “They knew they couldn’t compete with us in terms of keeping possession, so they sat all their players behind the ball making it extremely crowded for us on the attack, and waited to hit us on the counterattacks.” Hatton shared the spectator’s perspective of the first half. “Washington College was holding a lot of people back on defense, so every one of our guys was constantly marked by multiple people,” she said. “Their goalie had an amazing game, he saved shots that would’ve been goals in any other game.” The Eagles were tied with the Shoremen at the end of the first half, but they led in shots 8–4. The Shoremen’s first shot on goal, which was their closest scoring attempt of the half, hit the crossbar. UMW continued to bring the heat in the second half, outshooting the Shoremen 12–1. According to the game coverage on the UMW Men’s Soccer website, Washington College’s Tshazi Kamau scored the only goal of the game in the second half off of a giveand-go from Ben Strine. The Eagles pressed forward after the goal, with one shot hitting the post in the last few minutes of the game. “I think it was an evenly matched game, but UMW was still dominating the whole time. That’s why it was such a bummer when they got a lucky shot in,” said Hatton. “I was definitely still expecting us to come UMW captures the ball in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
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University of Mary Washington
Fall Sports Schedule and Scores
Abbey Magnet Sports Editor
Men’s Soccer (18-2-2)
Nov. 18 vs. Washington College (1-0)
Women’s Volleyball (30-5)
Nov. 16 vs. Hunter @ Huntingdon, Pa. (3-0) Nov. 17 vs. Springfield @ Huntingdon, Pa. (3-1) Nov. 18 vs. (3-0)
Men’s Basketball (5-2) Dec. 2 vs. Marymount Dec. 5 vs. Randolph-Macon Dec. 8 vs. Guilford
Women’s Basketball (6-1)
Dec. 2 vs. Marymount Dec. 9 vs. Messiah
Men’s Swimming (3-2)
Nov. 17-19 F&M Invitational @ Lancaster, Pa. (4th out of 9 teams) Dec. 2-3 Arena Yellow Jacket Invitational @ Chesterfield, Va.
Women’s Swimming (4-1)
Nov. 17-19 F&M Invitational @ Lancaster, Pa. (2nd out of 11 teams) Dec. 2-3 Arena Yellow Jacket Invitational @ Chesterfield, Va.
Games are available to watch via livestream on the UMW Athletics webpage. https://at.umw.edu/athletics/ calendar Full schedule not listed above. Most recent games included. Bold indicates home game.
Abbey Magnet / The Weekly Ringer