Tribe Completes Perfect Weekend with 2-0 Win over UNCW

W&M shut out its third straight opponent and eighth overall.

10/28/07 5:40PM

Williamsburg - The William and Mary men’s soccer team wrapped up a perfect weekend with a 2-0 victory over UNC Wilmington at Albert-Daly Field on Sunday afternoon. Sophomore Price Thomas tallied his fourth game-winning goal of the season in the opening half, while fellow striker Alan Koger added the clincher as the Tribe shut out its eighth opponent of the year. The College improved to 8-6-3 overall and 5-2-1 in the CAA, while UNCW fell to 2-12-1 on the season at 1-7 in the conference.

After a slow first half that was delayed multiple times by injuries, the Tribe struck for the opening goal of the game with just two minutes remaining before the half. Senior Doug Ernst fed Thomas along the left side of the 18-yard box. Thomas turned to beat a defender and then unleashed a shot inside the near post that beat first-half substitute goalkeeper Travis Middlebrooks from 15 yards out. It was Thomas’ seventh goal of the season and brought his team-high point total to 16.

W&M had a few chances to find the first tally of the contest prior to Thomas’ goal. In the 34th minute, senior Ryan Overdevest had a nice run into the penalty area from the left side following a throw in, but his attempt from 12 yards out went wide of the near post. In the 43rd minute of play, sophomore back Roger Bothe set Ernst free down the left wing. Ernst cut back to beat a defender, before serving a ball toward a penalty mark. Freshman midfielder Nathaniel Baako got a glancing header off, but the attempt went just wide of the far post.

Koger extended the Tribe’s lead to 2-0 with a goal at the 78:02 mark off a nice combination from Ernst and junior midfielder Doug McBride. Ernst back-heeled a pass to McBride along the left side of the 18-yard box. The Mechanicsville, Va., native sent a low lining cross into the middle of the area. The cross beat the UNCW goalkeeper who had come off his line, and Koger finished into the right side of the net from 10 yards out. The goal was Koger’s fifth of the season and second in as many matches, while Ernst tallied his fourth helper and McBride provided his second assist of the campaign.

In the 81st minute, Koger narrowly missed his second goal of the contest on a diving header. After Ernst gathered the ball along the left side of the pitch after a UNCW defender slipped, he sent a cross toward the near post. With the Seahawk goalkeeper rushing out, Koger got a head to the ball, but sent it just wide of the right post.

The Tribe held a 12-8 advantage in shots and an 11-2 cushion in corner kicks. Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Andrew McAdams made four saves on the afternoon to register his seventh clean sheet of the season. The College has shutout four of its last five opponents, including each of the last three.

W&M will return to action with its final two regular season away games on Nov. 2-4. The Tribe will travel to Philadelphia, Pa., for a 7 p.m. match with Drexel on Friday, Nov. 2, before heading to Delaware for a 1 p.m. start on Sunday, Nov. 4.

Box Score