Jeremy Harris’ First Career Goal Leads Tribe Past Elon

The Tribe won its fourth straight home opener under head coach Chris Norris.

09/01/07 10:00PM

Williamsburg - Sophomore midfielder Jeremy Harris found the back of the net for the first time in his collegiate career to propel the William and Mary men’s soccer team to a 1-0 season-opening victory over Elon at Albert-Daly Field. In front of a spirited crowd of 624, the Tribe turned in a solid night defensively to make Harris’ lone tally stand up. The Tribe won its fourth straight home opener under the direction of head coach Chris Norris.

“It was a great win for us,” Norris said. “I thought the guys showed a lot of team spirit and unity tonight. Playing without our two leading scorers from last season, we knew that needed a lot of people to step up in the goal-scoring department. We identified Jeremy (Harris) as one of those players, and he came through tonight. Ernst was once again the provider, and I thought we were solid defensively. With no exhibition game and playing the number of young player we are, I am happy with where we are at this point in the season.”

The Tribe broke through just 10 minutes into the second half to open its 1-0 advantage. Senior Doug Ernst broke free along the left side of the end line and lobbed a pass toward the back post. Harris got on the end of the service, chesting it down before hammering a shot into the upper left corner of the frame from eight yards out. The assist was the 13 of Ernst W&M career, after he led the Colonial Athletic Association in helpers last season.

Elon nearly found the equalizer less than five minutes later. Off a free kick, forward Aaron Parker flicked a header down the left side of the pitch to set Justin Wyatt free. As Wyatt made his way to goal, W&M senior goalkeeper Brennan Wergley came out and was able to make the kick save on the Elon midfielder’s lower lining shot. Wergley reacted quickly to corral the loose ball and stymie the Phoenix scoring attempt.

The visitors from North Carolina tried to pull even again in the 69th minute of play. Midfielder Erfan Imeni laid the ball of to striker Brett Paschall into the right side of the18-yard box. Paschall ripped a shot from 15 yards out that bent toward the middle of the goal, but sailed high of the frame.

Senior forward Brock Jones missed a chance to ice the game in the 81st minute. Junior midfielder Doug McBride provided beautiful service on a corner kick, finding Jones on the backside of the penalty area. Jones headed the ball down, but the attempt bounded wide of the goal.

Despite a number of free kick and corner kick chances throughout the second half, Elon was unable to find the equalizer. The Tribe backline of senior Michael Yakovac, sophomore Roger Bothe and freshmen Nick Orozco and Michael DiNuzzo made the lone tally stand up for the victory. Wergley notched his sixth career shutout, making two saves on the evening. W&M held a slim, 7-6, advantage in the shot department, while Elon had the better of corner kick attempts, 9-3.

The Tribe and Phoenix played a clean first-half that included only five total fouls and six total shots. Elon had the first true goal scoring chance of the night in the 18th minute of play. Paschall settled a long ball from the midfield and cut back to the right, before sending a shot wide of the left post from 20 yards out.

Ernst recorded the first shot on goal of the evening, forcing Elon goalkeeper Clint Irwin to make a diving save. Jones made a nice move along the right flank to gain space. He sent a short cross to Ernst along the left side of the penalty area. Ernst lifted a bending shot toward the far post, but Irwin was up to the task with the diving stop.

The Phoenix most dangerous opportunity of the opening half came in the 27th minute. Wyatt cut back with the dribble along the top of the 18, before sending a shot toward the upper right corner of the goal. Wergley got a hand on the shot and pushed it high and wide of the frame.

With just over three minutes remaining in the first half, the Tribe had another dangerous attempt. After the ball deflected off an Elon defender in the midfield, it fell to Bothe, but his attempt from 12 yards out went wide of the right post.

The Tribe will return to action at the Penn State Classic, Sept. 7-9, in University Park, Pa. W&M will battle the host Nittany Lions on Sept. 7 at 5:30 p.m., before meeting another Big Ten foe in Ohio State on Sept. 9 at noon.

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