__Keeper’s deep punt sets up sophomore’s game-winning goal; team now 3-2-2__
__For the second straight game, sophomore midfielder Price Thomas provided the spark for the Tribe.__
p. This time it was Thomas’s speed that was the difference, as his second goal of the season came during the 71st minute Tuesday night and helped secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the visiting American University Eagles (3-4-1) at Albert-Daly Field.
p. After playing back-to-back double overtime games against University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill and Virginia Tech, the College (now 3-3-2 on the season) sat back defensively to conserve energy for much of the first half. The defensive emphasis led to only one shot on goal for the Tribe in the opening 45 minutes.
p. “We played in front of them too much [in the first half],” Head Coach Chris Norris said. “In the second half we tried to stretch the ball a little more.”
p. Thomas’s goal was set up by redshirt freshman goalkeeper Andrew McAdams. McAdams punted the ball deep into Eagles’ territory and Thomas out-sprinted an American defender to place a shot past goalie Chris Sedlak for the score.
p. “I have been trying to get [McAdams] to do that all year,” Thomas said. “Their defenseman misplayed the ball and I was able to slide it under the goalie.”
p. Thomas led the College with three shots on goal Tuesday night.
p. “It was not a great performance overall in terms of our sharpness,” Norris said. “We expected that coming in … it took us a while to get going.” The Tribe also recorded three yellow cards against the Eagles.
p. American’s best scoring chance occurred when Eagle midfielder Cameron Petty headed a corner kick toward the far post midway through the second half. McAdams reacted instantly, coming off his line to punch the ball over the crossbar. The shutout was the second of the season for McAdams, who was named last week’s CAA Rookie of the Week following his performances against North Carolina and Virginia Tech.
p. The College returns to action Saturday night when they travel north to face the Stony Brook University Seawolves, who have won five of their last six games.