WILMINGTON, N.C. – Junior Nathan Messer beat UNCW goalkeeper Gabriel Perrotta to the near post in the 106th minute to complete a miraculous comeback and lift William & Mary men's soccer to an important Colonial Athletic Association win, 2-1, on Saturday night. The Tribe (7-6, 4-3 CAA) won its fourth in a row and in the process took a major step toward earning a CAA Tournament berth.
 
UNCW (9-6-1, 4-3 CAA) scored midway through the first half and led until the final minute of regulation. Senior John Eberle's goal with just 28 seconds remaining to send the contest to extra time.
 
With a little less than five minutes remaining in the second OT, Messer scored the game-winner. The Tribe junior found a ton of space along the left side of the midfield and dribbled toward the top of the box. As he entered the penalty, Messer got the UNCW defender on his back foot and then ripped a left-footed shot inside the near post to send W&M to its third road win in a row. 

The Seahawks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute on a goal from Jalen Anderson. Jacob Evans played a leading ball from the left side of midfield into the box. Anderson ran onto it and lifted a shot over a rushing Connor Andrews to get the home team on the board.
 
W&M's best chance of the first half came off the foot of senior Devin McCarthy. In the 34th minute, junior Alfredo Bozalongo played a longball into the right side of the penalty area. McCarthy's volley chance from the backside of the six was blocked away by Perrotta.
 
The Tribe was on the front foot to start the second half, but against Perrotta came up with a big stop. Just two minutes into the second frame, McCarthy's cross from the right side of midfield caught a deflection but ended up on the foot of junior Alexander Levengood. His shot from 10 yards out to the left post was blocked away on a diving save by the UNCW GK.
 
Eberle came up with the equalizer in the closing minute to send the game to overtime. With W&M throwing numbers forward, pushing the equalizer, Bozalongo played a longball into the area. Perrotta came off his line, but could only get a touch on it. Eberle pounced on the loose ball, touched to the right side of the box and then hit a shot toward the center of the fame that found the back of the net with just 28 seconds remaining. 
 
W&M Starters – #26 Andrews (GK), #2 Biddle, #3 Donynath, #6 Bozalongo, #7 Levengood, #8 Villeda, #9 Nwegbo, #10 McCarthy, #11 Messer, #18 Thorsheim, #19 Hosseinian
 
UNCW Starters – #1 Perrotta (GK), #2 Hillis, #4 Sadler, #7 Anderson, #9 Toone, #10 Evans, #12 Ndiaye, #13 Hornsby, #18 Aboutaleb, #21 Rabil, #23 Molina
 
Scoring Summary
27' | UNCW – Jalen Anderson (Jacob Evans)
90' | W&M – John Eberle (unassisted)
106' | W&M – Nathan Messer (unassisted)
 
Inside the Numbers
- UNCW outshot W&M, 13-9, but the Tribe put more attempts on frame, 6-4.
- The Seahawks had seven corner kicks compared to W&M's one.
- Junior Connor Andrews tallied three saves in goal, while UNCW's Gabriel Perrotta had four.
- Junior Alexander Levengood registered a team-high three shots, including two on goal.
 
Notes
The Tribe ran its win streak to four matches … W&M won a third consecutive game on the road for the first time since 1994 … The Green and Gold has won four of its last five CAA matches … With the victory, the Tribe jumped from seventh in the CAA standings to fourth with 12 points, which is important because only the top four teams make the CAA Tournament … Junior Nathan Messer tallied his fourth goal of the season … Three of his four goals have been game-winners, which is tied for the team lead with classmate Alexander Levengood … Senior John Eberle scored his first goal of the season and the third of his career … The Tribe posted its first win at UNCW since 2011.
 
Up Next
The Tribe wraps up the regular season when it hosts Elon on Saturday, Nov. 6. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field and the game will be broadcast on FloFC.