Thomas' Strike, Solid Defense Pushes Tribe Past VCU

Sophomore Price Thomas scored the game-winner in the 59th minute of play.

10/14/07 8:15PM

Williamsburg - Sophomore striker Price Thomas scored a goal for the fourth consecutive game and the Tribe defense made it stand as the William and Mary men’s soccer team defeated VCU, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon at Albert-Daly Field. Thomas notched a point for the seventh game in a row with the game-winner in the 59th minute, and the College held the Rams off the scoreboard over the final 31 minutes of the contest for its fifth clean sheet of the season. With the victory, the Tribe improved to 6-5-2 overall and 3-1 in the CAA, while the Rams, who were ranked No. 4 in the South Atlantic region coming into the contest by the NSCAA, fell to 5-4-2 on the year and 1-3 in league play.

W&M used a quick counter to get on the scoreboard 14 minutes into the second half. Senior midfielder Ryan Overdevest played a leading through ball to Thomas, setting the Charlottesville, Va., native free on a breakaway. With VCU goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra rushing out, Thomas slotted the ball to the far post from just inside the 18-yard box for what proved to be the game-winner. It was the sixth goal of the season for Thomas, and he continued his torrid midseason streak. Over the last seven games, he has registered 13 points on six goals and an assist. It marked his third game-winner of the stretch. The assist was Overdevest’s first of the season.

Most of the VCU chances over the remainder of the contest came off set pieces whether it was via a long throw in or from a free kick. In the 68th minute, a long throw from Sven Meusch made its way through a slew of players into the middle of the 18-yard box. Carlos Herdy, Jr. settled and turned, but his shot went right at W&M goalkeeper Andrew McAdams.

With nine minutes remaining in the contest, the W&M defense came up with another big stop. Off a long free kick from the midfield stripe, Matthijs Maruanaya found a streaking Gerson Dos Santos into the penalty area, but Dos Santos attempt was block by a Tribe defender. The ball deflected out to Peer Jaekel, but his attempt from 20 yards out on the right side went well wide of the far post.

McAdams came up with his final save of the match to preserve the shutout with six minutes remaining. Maruanaya served a ball in from the right wing and Dirk Dittrich got up to get a head on the ball, but McAdams made the grab to deny the chance.

For the game, McAdams finished with seven saves to register his fourth shutout of the season. The Tribe backline of junior Brock Jones, sophomore Roger Bothe and freshmen Nick Orozco and Michael DiNuzzo was impressive all day stymieing numerous Ram chances. The Tribe quartet was particularly impressive with its ability to win balls in the air in the final third and inside the penalty area.

The Rams started the game with a chance off a long throw in, and it was a preview of things to come as most VCU chances came via the long throw. Meusch’s throw made its way through the penalty area from the right wing. The ball ended up with Dittrich off a deflection, but he could get very little on the attempt sending it wide of the left post from eight yards out.

The Tribe came back down with its first chance of the game off a corner kick in the third minute of play. Thomas served the ball to the near side of the penalty area, but Dykstra made a smothering stop of a 12-yard volley from Jones.

Thomas nearly found fellow forward Alan Koger in the 12th minute of play. After making a nice turn following a pass from Overdevest along the left flank, Thomas sprinted free of the VCU defense, before serving a ball toward the back post. Koger just missed getting his head to the service with Dykstra well out of position off his line.

McAdams made a nice diving stop in the 28th minute of play to keep VCU off the board in the opening half. Maruanaya cut a pass back to reserve Pat Viray along the left side of the 18. Viray’s shot toward the right post was stopped on a diving grab by McAdams.

Seven minutes later, McAdams made a similar save off a shot from Maruanaya this time pushing the ball wide of the Tribe goal. Dos Santos made centering pass toward the top of the 18 that Viray dummied before Maruanya gather. He touched the ball to his right, before hitting a right-footed shot toward the near post that McAdams pushed wide.

Just four minutes into the second half, W&M came up with a pair of defensive stops to keep the game scoreless. Off a free kick, Viray got free in close, but was denied twice by the Tribe defense. Maruanaya served the ball in to the back post, where Viray settled, but his short-sided shot was blocked to McAdams. The ball rebounded back to Viray, but Bothe blocked his second attempt to neutralize the scoring chance.

The Tribe will play five of its next six conference games on the road. W&M will travel to Towson on Friday, Oct. 19, for a 3 p.m. start. The College will then trek to Fairfax, Va., to face George Mason on Sunday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m.

Box Score