NORFOLK, Va. – The William and Mary men's soccer team battled Central Florida to a 0-0 tie on Friday night at the Old Dominion Soccer Complex in Norfolk, Va. The match was the first game of the Stihl Soccer Classic.
William and Mary is now 1-2-1, while UCF is now 1-1-2 on the season.
The first half was a battle for possession with both team's trading good chances. In the 26th minute, the Knight's Romairo Williams had a look, but it sailed just high of the goal. W&M's best chance came in the 45th minute, freshman Reilly Maw drove the box and put a shot on frame, but UCF keeper Sebastian Evers made the stop.
At the break the match remained scoreless with the Tribe holding a 4-3 advantage in shots.
William and Mary controlled the play in the second half and both overtime periods. The Tribe outshot the Knights 16-8, including 4-1 advantage in shots on goal in the second half and overtimes.
The Green and Gold opened the second half with a quick shot by sophomore Jackson Eskay in the 46th minute, but the shot was saved. Eskay had another look off of the rebound seconds later, but it went wide.
In the 81st minute junior Josh West had a pair of chances. Evers saved his first chance, but the rebound bounced back to West, however, his follow was blocked.
Both teams had chances in the final 10 minutes of regulation. The Tribe had shots from redshirt sophomore Ryan Flesch and redshirt senior Chris Perez, but both shots went high. Central Florida made a final push, and in the 88th minute Omar Vallejo put a shot on net, but sophomore Mac Phillips made the save.
Again, William and Mary controlled the first overtime, firing the only two shots of the period. In the 92nd minute, Patel fired but his shot sailed high. The other chance came from junior Marcus Luster, but his shot was just wide.
The Tribe had two great looks in the second overtime period. In the 102nd minute, Flesch launched a shot toward the frame, but it hit the post. Patel lined up a shot in the 109th minute and hit the under side of the crossbar and Evers was able to control the ball out of the box.
Phillips was strong again in goal for W&M. He turned away both shots that came on frame, earning his second shutout of the season and his career.
The Green and Gold conclude the Stihl Soccer Classic on Sunday, Sept. 15 against No. 1 Creighton at noon. The match will be played at the ODU Soccer Complex.
