WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senior William Eskay and junior Ryder Bell scored eight minutes apart in the second half to lead the William & Mary men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory at George Washington on Tuesday afternoon. After the Colonials (1-3) took the lead in the 70th minute, the Tribe (2-1-1) answered with markers from Eskay in the 74th and Bell in the 82nd to push its unbeaten streak to three matches.
 
"We didn't play well in the first half, and in the second, we were really on top of things," head coach Chris Norris said. "Unfortunately, we gave up a goal in transition, but the guys showed good determination to stick to the plan and stay focused. It didn't take long for us to equalize, and then we were able to go ahead and get the second one."
 
After a scoreless opening 45 minutes, the Tribe pressure mounted in the early stages of the second half, but the Colonials scored first in the 70th minute. After Ben Ogedegbe intercepted a pass in the midfield, Drini Redzepi set Oscar Haynes Brown free down the left side. Brown touched around a rushing Phil Breno and slid it home to put the home team on top, 1-0.
 
W&M wasted little time answering just four minutes later on Eskay's first goal of the season. Junior Marcel Berry beat his defender to the end line and sent a cross from the right wing. Eskay got to the end of it, finishing to the far post for the equalizer from six-yards out.
 
The Tribe pressure created the eventual game-winner in the 82nd minute. The Green and Gold forced a turnover in the attacking third. Junior Antonio Bustamante collected and sent a leading pass into the 18-yard box. After getting past his mark on the pass, Bell settled with his first touch and slotted it in past a diving GW goalkeeper Thor Arne Hofs for his second goal of the year.
 
W&M Starters – #26 Breno (GK), #4 Frost, #5 Golan, #10 Bustamante, #11 Bell, #12 Berry, #13 Shane, #14 Eskay, #17 Acosta, #21 Trott, #23 Spain
 
GW Starters – #1 Hofs (GK), #2 Moore, #4 Seemungal, #9 Conning, #10 Lawal, #11 Curry, #16 Yurasits, #18 O'Connor, #19 Anderson, #22 Lightbourn, #26 Ogedegbe
 
Goals
70' – George Washington - Oscar Haynes Brown (Drini Redzepi)
74' – W&M – William Eskay (Marcel Berry)
82' – W&M – Ryder Bell (Antonio Bustamante)
 
Quotable
Head Coach Chris Norris on the win over George Washington …
"Really it was a game of two halves. We didn't play well in the first half, and in the second, we were really on top of things. Unfortunately, we gave up a goal in transition, but the guys showed good determination to stick to the plan and stay focused. It didn't take long for us to equalize, and then we were able to go ahead and get the second one."
 
Norris on the Tribe's first goal …
"We were having a fair bit of the play in the second half, but we were getting too impatient and narrow and were not utilizing the width of the field. Finally, we did that, getting the ball to Marcel. He recognized it was 1-on-1, beat his defender to the line and put in a nice pass. William was in a good position and finished first time. It was a good goal from a situation where we thought we could be effective in the attacking half."
 
Norris on Ryder Bell's game-winner …
"It was a situation where we were able to press high of up the field and turn them over. Antonio got hold of it and made a nice pass. Ryder was able to pull off the shoulder of the center back, did well to take a positive first touch and finish."
 
Norris on being unbeaten in last three games entering the CAA opener at Drexel …
"We are doing more and more of things successfully that we need to do to be the best team possible. The next step for us is putting it together for 90 minutes. We didn't play well in the first half, but fortunately we were able to pick it up. We have to start putting in 90-minute performances."
 
Inside the Numbers
- After George Washington held 7-5 cushion in shot in the first half, W&M held a commanding 11-4 advantage in the second to finish the game outshooting the home side, 16-11.
 
- Bustamante topped W&M with six shots, putting three on frame, while Bell and Eskay tallied three attempts apiece.
 
- Breno made three saves in goal for the Tribe to pick up the win. He had two in the first half and one in the second.
 
- All three W&M corner kicks came in the second half, while all five George Washington attempts were in the first.
 
Notes
Bell's goal was the 18th of his Tribe career, the most on the current roster, and his sixth career game-winner … Bell leads the team with two goals in 2017 … The assist on the game-winner was Bustamante's sixth helper of his career and first this season… Berry leads W&M with two assists this season and now has 11 in his career … Eskay posted his 17th career goal and increased his career point total to 49, which is the most on the current roster … Prior to the match on Tuesday, the Tribe garnered the No. 7 spot in the United Soccer Coaches Midwest Region Rankings.
 
Up Next
The Tribe continues its three-game road swing when it opens CAA play at Drexel on Saturday, Sept. 9. The contest carries a 7 p.m. start time from Philadelphia. Fans can followed along with live video at CAA.TV and live stats on TribeAthletics.com.