CHARLESTON, S.C. – Senior Chris Albiston registered his second multi-goal game of the season and freshman William Eskay scored the game-winner in the 100th minute as the William and Mary men's soccer team dropped the College of Charleston 3-2 in overtime on Wednesday night. With the result, W&M improves to 5-8-1, 2-2-1 in Colonial Athletic Association play, while the Cougars fall to 2-8-2, 1-2-1 in league action.
"I'm very proud of our group tonight," head coach Chris Norris said. "We had lapses and Charleston did a good job of punishing us, but we were resilent and battled our way back into the game and to three very points in the conference race."
W&M jumped on the board first with a goal in the 11th minute. Albiston was sent free and found some space at the top right corner of the box. From there he unleashed a shot into the top left corner of the goal to give the Tribe an early 1-0 lead.
The lead was short lived as less than a minute later the College of Charleston knotted the score at 1-1. Daan Brinkman played a pass over the top of the Tribe defense that found Tanner Clay streaking down the field. Clay connected on a sliding volley into the back of the goal for the Cougars' first marker of the match.
Charleston took its first lead of the night with a goal in the 36th minute. Tucker Coons fed a pass from the left sideline to Troy Peterson, who fired his shot. His attempt clanked off of the post, but it ricocheted into the back of the goal. Peterson's first goal of the season gave the Cougars a 2-1 advantage.
The Tribe had the final chance of the first half. Senior Josh West came bursting down the left sideline and uncorked a shot on target, but it was turned away by Cougars keeper Alex Young.
W&M had a strong run in the 57th minute end with a shot on goal. A long ball found junior Jackson Eskay, who sent a quick pass to his left that found Albiston. The senior, who was wide open, fired a shot but Young was there for the save.
The Green and Gold found the equalizer in the 64th minute. William Eskay started the play by playing a through ball to West. West, who was on the goal line sent a pass to Albiston, who buried his shot in the empty net. His second goal of the night knotted the match 2-2.
Neither team could find the game-winner in regulation and the match headed to overtime. It was the fourth time this season the Tribe had a match go into extra time.
With just 24 seconds remaining in the first overtime, W&M found the game-winner. Sophomore Reilly Maw sent a cross to William Eskay who one touched the ball at the far post. The freshman's third goal of the season gave the Tribe a 3-2 victory.
CofC did outshoot the Tribe 13-10, but W&M held a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal. Senior Bennett Jones made a pair of saves in his fifth victory of the season. Albiston, who recorded his second career multi-goal game, recorded a game-high five shots.
The Tribe concludes its home regular season schedule with a two-match home stand. The Tribe welcomes CAA rival Delaware on Saturday, Oct. 18, before welcoming Old Dominion on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Kickoff for both matches is set for 7 p.m.
