WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – William & Mary men's soccer kicks off a two-match homestand hosting Colonial Athletic Association foe Elon on Wednesday night. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. from Martin Family Stadium and the match will be broadcast on Tribe Athletics TV.
Scouting the Tribe
- The Tribe enters its two home matches this weekend on a three-match winning streak. Following a 1-0 overtime win at Coastal Carolina on Saturday, the Tribe is 3-4-2 on the year.
- W&M is 1-1-1 in Colonial Athletic Association play following its 2-0 road win at Charleston on Sept. 28. The Green and Gold also drew UNCW, 1-1, on Sept. 14.
- With the clean sheet against CCU, the Tribe extended its shutout streak to 275:52. It marks the first time W&M recorded three-straight shutouts since 2016.
- For the second time this season, freshman goalkeeper
Kieran Baskett was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Week. He recorded six saves in the Tribe's 1-0 overtime win at Coastal Carolina. It was his fourth match with five or more saves.
- For the first time since 2007, the Tribe started six freshmen in the victory over Coastal Carolina. Redshirt freshman
Theo Biddle earned his first collegiate start and was joined in the first XI by
Alexander Levengood,
Nathan Messer,
Alfredo Bozalongo,
Marcos Villeda, and Baskett.
- Levengood netted his first career game-winner in the victory over the Chanticleers as he chipped the CCU goalkeeper from 25 yards out for the 96th-minute golden goal. He leads W&M with four goals on the year, which ranks fourth in the CAA.
- Freshman
Diba Nwegbo, who registered the assist on Levengood's game-winner, is tied for the team lead with senior
Julian Ngoh and Bozalongo with two assists on the year. That total also ranks ninth in the CAA.
- Junior
Sam Golan and freshman
Nathan Messer picked up weekly CAA honors on Sept. 30. Golan, who was also named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week, was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Week thanks to a pair of shutouts and his first career game with a goal and an assist at Charleston. Messer picked up the CAA Rookie of the Week award tallying the game-winning goal at Charleston and assisting on the winner in the win over Loyola.
- Baskett leads the CAA in saves (41), save percentage (.788) while coming in second in shutouts (3), goals against average (1.16) and saves per game (4.56). His save total ranks 26th nationally as of Oct. 1.
- Baskett tallied a career-high 11 saves against UNCW, which were the most for a W&M player since 1998 when Adin Brown tallied 12 against St. John's. The total was the most in a CAA game since 2015. He was named to College Soccer News National Team of the Week for his efforts.
- Ngoh, who scored the game-winner vs. Loyola Maryland, is second on the team with six points on two goals and two assists. He ranks ninth in the CAA in assists.
- In total, six true freshmen (
Marcos Villeda, Bozalongo, Nwegbo, Messer, Baskett and Levengood) have started at least one game this season. It marks the most true freshmen to start games in a season since 2011.
- In total, 56.6 percent of the Tribe's starts this season (56-of-99) have come from its underclassmen – freshmen and sophomores. The rookies own 43 of those starts.
Scouting Elon
- Elon enters the match with the Tribe at 3-6-1 overall and 0-4 in CAA play. The Phoenix are coming off a 2-1 home loss to Drexel on Saturday.
- Each of Elon's last three CAA setbacks has been by a goal – 2-1 to Drexel, 3-2 at Delaware and 3-2 at Hofstra.
- Senior forward Inigo Bronte and freshman striker Burl Shepherd lead the Phoenix with three goals apiece.
- Sophomore midfielders Christian Lauenborg and Valdimar Jonsson each have five points on two goals and an assist.
- Freshman midfielder Mattias Copper leads the Phoenix with three assists.
- Sophomore Alex Lorne and redshirt freshman Peter Wentzel have split time in goal. Lorne has started the last five matches, sporting a 1.45 goals against average with 13 saves and owns two of the Phoenix's three wins. He has registered both Elon's shutouts. Wentzel started the first five matches and has a GAA of 2.75 with 12 saves.
- On the year, Elon is allowing teams to score 2.1 goals per game, while scoring just 1.5 per contest. They are allowing 3.5 per game in CAA play, while scoring just over one (1.3).
Series History: W&M vs. Elon
- The Tribe leads the all-time series with Elon at 6-2-2, including a 4-1-1 mark in Williamsburg.
- The Green and Gold has outscored the Phoenix, 12-7, in the 10 all-time meetings.
- W&M is 3-1-2 against Elon since they joined the CAA in 2014.
- Last season, the teams played to a 1-1 draw at Elon.
Zachary Hosseinian set up
Devin McCarthy for the Tribe's score just nine seconds before halftime.
- The last meeting in Williamsburg, the Tribe tallied the winner in the 66th minute to down the Phoenix, 1-0.
Julian Ngoh assisted on the goal.
Up Next
- The Tribe continues its homestand against Old Dominion on Saturday night, welcoming Hampton Roads rival Old Dominion to Williamsburg.
- Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from Martin Family Stadium and the game will be streamed on Tribe Athletics TV.
