WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The William & Mary men's soccer team opened the scoring, but George Washington rallied for a pair of goals and the victory on opening night for both teams at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field Friday. Junior William Eskay tallied the lone goal of the night for the Green and Gold in the fifth minute. With the decision, the Tribe falls to 0-1-0, while the Colonials improve to 1-0-0.  
 
William & Mary was the early aggressor and nearly found the first goal just 38 seconds into the match. Sophomore Ryder Bell sent a through ball passed the Colonials backline that found an open Eskay, and his chance had to be stopped by a diving George Washington goalkeeper Thor Arne Hofs.
 
The Tribe broke onto the scoresheet just five minutes into the match. Following a turnover by the George Washington backline, Eskay collected the loose ball, and took one step right. He rocketed a shot into the middle left of the goal. His first goal of the season gave the Tribe an early 1-0.
 
W&M's pressure didn't rest after the tally, and the Tribe nearly scored twice in the 12th and 13th minute. Off of a free kick by redshirt senior Jeff Bombelles, Bell was able to put a header attempt off the crossbar, but GW played the rebound out of bounds. On the ensuing corner kick from sophomore Antonio Bustamante, freshman Tanner Shane's header had to be punched away Arne Hofs.
 
The Green and Gold's pressure continued in the middle of the half, but they still couldn't add their second goal of the game. In the 22nd minute Antonio Bustamante fired a shot on target, before redshirt junior Riley Spain had a shot on frame in the 38th minute. Both shots ended with same result in saves by Arne Hofs.
 
In the 39th minute, the Colonials found the equalizer. Koby Osei-Wusu drove down the left side of the pitch and sent a cross into the right side of the box. Waiting there was Garrett Hiene, who flicked his header into the goal, tying the match.
 
GW took its first lead in the 58th minute of the match. From midfield Oliver Curry sent a long ball to the box that found a waiting Dylan Lightbourn. Lightbourn one-timed a shot into the right corner of the goal, putting the Colonials up 2-1.
 
W&M's best look for the equalizer came in the 82nd minute. Freshman Tanner Shane found some room on the left side of the penalty area and uncorked a shot that was stopped by a diving GW defender for the team save.
 
Despite the scoreline, the Tribe controlled all of the offensive stats outshooting GW 17-4, including a 9-2 advantage in shots on-goal. W&M also fired off 10 corner kicks to the Colonials one. Senior Reilly Maw led the team with three shots in the match.
 
The Green and Gold concludes its season opening homestand on Monday, Aug. 29 against No. 21 Coastal Carolina. The Tribe then hits the road for the first time in 2016 as they travel to Liberty for a match on Friday, Sept. 2. Both matches are slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff.