WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The William & Mary men's soccer team suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 double overtime loss to UNCW on Saturday night at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field. Junior Reilly Maw put the Tribe on top early in the second half, but the Seahawks equalized thanks to an own goal before finding the game winner from Kellen Foster with just 1:27 remaining in the second extra period. W&M fell to 4-7-2 and 1-5 in CAA play, while UNCW improved to 8-3-2 overall and 3-2-1 in league action.
 
After a scoreless opening 45 minutes, W&M opened the game's scoring in the 61st minute. Senior Jackson Eskay set Maw free into the left side of the 18-yard box, and the Green and Gold junior slotted one home past a diving Sean Melvin. The goal was Maw's first of the year, while it was Eskay's team-best fourth assist.
 
The Seahawks pulled even 12 minutes later on a Tribe defensive miscue. UNCW's Ben Fisher crossed the ball from the left wing into the middle of the penalty box over the head of a Seahawk attacker. The Tribe defense tried to clear the ball out of danger, but it deflected off defender and into the back of the net, tying the game at 1-1.
 
W&M nearly went back in front in the 82nd minute off a combination from a pair of freshmen. Rookie Antonio Bustamante laid the ball off to Ryder Bell in the right side of the 18-yard box, but Bell's rocket toward the near post was blocked way by UNCW goalkeeper Sean Melvin.
 
The Tribe outshot UNCW, 10-5, in regulation and had three attempts to one for the visitors in the first overtime period, but it was the Seahawks who cashed in their fourth opportunity of the second extra session. Junior goalkeeper Mac Phillips came up with a remarkable reflex save off a shot from Kellen Foster pushing it out of play with just over two minutes remaining in the contest. On the ensuing corner kick, Ben Fisher bent a ball to the back post. The W&M defense attempted to head the service away, but the clearance fell to Fisher around the penalty spot and he rifled a shot into the center netting for the game-winner.
 
W&M outshot UNCW, 13-10, on the evening and had three corner kicks compared to two for the Seahawks. Phillips finished with four saves on the night for the Tribe, while Melvin had two in goal on the other side.  
 
An uneventful opening 45 minutes nearly culminated in a Tribe goal as the Green and Gold generated its three best scoring chances of the first half in the final two minutes. In the 43rd minute, freshman Marcel Berry worked the ball to redshirt freshman Christian Jones along the right end line, and his cross toward the back post just missed the head of Maw before the UNCW defense cleared it away.
 
Just 20 ticks later, Bell received a pass 22 yards out straight on from goal, but his low liner went from wide of the right post. In the final minute, Maw gained spaced toward the left end line. He sent a roller toward the penalty spot, where sophomore Jeff Bombelles' shot on frame was blocked by the Seahawk defense.
 
UNCW's best scoring chance of the first half came in the 32nd minute. Michael Mecham curled a pass from the right wing toward the left side of the six-yard box. Barry attempted to hold off a rushing Daniel Escobar, but the Seahawk forward got a touch on it only to have Phillips make the stop.
 
The Tribe returns to action when it hosts Big South foe UNC Asheville on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. Fans will be treated to another expanded, multi-camera HD broadcast of Tribe men's soccer against the Bulldogs on Tribe Athletics TV thanks to the 12th Man Club.