The following article was previously published on The Flat Hat’s website. However, due to an unforeseen technological glitch, it was removed from the website for a period of time and was re-uploaded today, Nov. 8.
Saturday, Oct. 14, William and Mary men’s soccer (2-7-5, 1-3-2 CAA) fell to Charleston (5-4-5, 2-2-2 CAA) 3-2 at Martin Family Stadium in Williamsburg, Va.
A rainy, aggressive matchup between Coastal Athletic Association opponents gave William and Mary its seventh loss of the season, despite its out-shooting of Charleston 18-7.
Freshman midfielder Aidan Morrison had the first offensive look of the contest just 11 seconds into the game, but Charleston’s goalkeeper managed to save the shot. In the 12th minute, Charleston sophomore forward Iker Carew converted the first goal of the match, giving Charleston an early 1-0 lead. Twenty minutes later, freshman forward Peter Thomas of Charleston scored a massive goal over graduate student goalkeeper Cole McNally, extending its lead to two.
The Tribe finally responded with a decisive goal from senior midfielder Daniel Salom from the left side thanks to an assist from graduate student midfielder Alfredo Bozalongo. The deficit became just one goal, but Charleston responded immediately. Just 35 seconds later, Thomas scored again for Charleston, his second goal of the day. The half closed with the Tribe down 3-1.
In the second half, as weather conditions worsened, the score held the same. William and Mary had multiple solid looks, but failed to convert until the 82nd minute. The Tribe defense had been solid in the second half thus far, and finally the Tribe offense managed to finish off one of its offensive attacks. Sophomore midfielder Diogo Branco played the ball to Morrison, who then passed to sophomore forward Lucas Caldas for the score. The goal by Caldas marked his fifth of the season and took the score to 3-2.
As William and Mary sought to close the gap in the last few minutes of play, a second red card from senior back Cole Knapp left the Tribe with just 10 players on the field. Though there were a few last ditch efforts for the Tribe, the team was unable to convert, ending the matchup with a Charleston victory, 3-2.
William and Mary will travel to UNC Chapel Hill on Tuesday, Oct. 17 to take on the No. 14 Tar Heels at Dorrance Field in Chapel Hill, NC.
