Overdevest Tallies Game-Winner as Tribe Shutouts Delaware

Ryan Overdevest scored his first goal of the season in the win over the Blue Hens.

11/04/07 4:30PM

Newark, Del. - Senior midfielder Ryan Overdevest waited for the perfect time to score his first goal of the season to lead the William and Mary men’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory at Delaware on Sunday afternoon. The Academic All-American headed home the game-winner in the 62nd minute as the Tribe shutout its ninth opponent of the season in the win over the Blue Hens. The College improved to 9-7-3 overall and 6-3-1 in the CAA, while Delaware fell to 3-12-2 on the season and 3-6-1 in the league.

“We are obviously pleased with the win and with our defense’s ability to get another shutout,” head coach Chris Norris said. “We played very well in the first half and created a number of chances but just could not quite get the goal. The guys stayed patient and continued to do the things that we had done to be successful. Price (Thomas) did a good job of getting wide, and (Ryan) Overdevest was there at the back post to head it in unmarked.”

After pressuring the Delaware goal throughout the opening 60 minutes of the contest, the Tribe finally broke though at the 61:26 mark. Sophomore forward Price Thomas continued to be the offensive igniter for the College as he served a ball into the box, where Overdevest was on the spot to head the service into the upper right corner of the goal. Senior midfielder Doug Ernst was also credited with his team-leading fifth assist of the season, sliding the ball wide to Thomas on the play. It was the third assist of the season for Thomas and his second game-winning helper of the campaign. The goal was the third of Overdevest’s career and his second game-winning goal.

The Blue Hens, who knocked off first-place Old Dominion, 2-0, on Friday night, pressured for the equalizer over the waning minutes, but were denied by a stout Tribe defense. Sobhan Tadjalli had a pair of attempts on frame for Delaware, but both chances were stopped by redshirt freshman goalkeeper Andrew McAdams, including the final attempt of the game in the 88th minute of play.

W&M finished the game with a 14-9 shot advantage and a 3-1 cushion in corner kicks. McAdams finished with six saves in the victory.

The Tribe put pressure on the Delaware goal early and often in the opening half of play. Thomas opened the game with a shot on goal just 47 seconds into the match, but UD’s Jon Curry-Edwards made the stop. Thomas put another shot on goal in the opening half, while Ernst and freshman linkman Nathaniel Baako both recorded a pair of shots on goal as well in the opening 45 minutes. The Tribe outshot Delaware, 9-3, in the opening half, placing six of those attempts on goal.

The College will wrap up the regular season against Old Dominion on Thursday, Nov. 8. The game is slated for a 7 p.m. start time at Albert-Daly Field. It will be the final regular season home affair in the careers of W&M seniors Doug Ernst, Ryan Overdevest, Brennan Wergley, Michael Yakovac and Ryan Sells.

Box Score