TRIBE 3, DELAWARE 1
The fastest hat trick in CAA history gave the College of William and Mary (7-4-2, 3-3 CAA) an early cushion that the University of Delaware could not overcome Saturday night.
Sophomore forward Alan Koger scored in the sixth, 13th and 22nd minutes — the first hat trick by a male player in Albert-Daly Field history — to give the Tribe a 3-0 advantage. Meanwhile, fellow sophomore goalie Andrew McAdams collected eight saves — his second-highest save total of the year — to lead the Tribe defensively.
“Any time you can get early goals, it loosens you up a little bit,” Head Coach Chris Norris said. “Clearly after our last two games we wanted to make sure that we had a real energetic and high-tempo start.”
The return of senior captain Doug McBride after a one-game suspension, due to a red card in his last match, made an immediate impact on the College’s performance. The captain sent a free kick from 40 yards out into the top of the box, which Koger headed over charging Delaware keeper Conrad Rusnak.
Koger’s second goal came off a pass from junior forward Price Thomas; his third score resulted from junior midfielder Jeremy Harris’s high cross.
“It was the best three balls played to me in one game,” Koger, who now leads the Tribe with five goals on the season, said. He noted that the midfield was distributing the ball out wide, stretching the Blue Hens’s defense and giving the Tribe forwards more room to maneuver in the box.
After allowing four goals against the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Tuesday, the College’s back line stepped up its intensity, holding the Blue Hens scoreless for the first 75 minutes of play.
“When we put a couple goals up on the scoreboard early, it allows the defense to play with more confidence,” McAdams said. “The UNC game for us, defensively, was awful — the worst of the season. Being able to come out here and do what we did tonight is going to help us going forward.”
While the scoreboard favored the Tribe, much of the second half possession and chances belonged to the visitors. Delaware outshot the Tribe 7-4 in the second frame and held a 2-1 corner kick advantage.
“I am not happy with the second half,” Norris said. “We cannot accept that. It was a good win. It is great to get the three points in the league, but again, we are still looking for the perfect performance, and we are not there yet.”
The Tribe hosts CAA foe University of North Carolina-Wilmington tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Albert-Daly Field.
