WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – William & Mary men's soccer dominated the scoring opportunities, but Old Dominion cashed in their best chance and received a strong goalkeeping performance from Djibril Doumbia to blank the Tribe, 1-0, in both teams' spring season opener on Sunday afternoon at the Dillard Complex.
 
The Green and Gold (0-1) relentlessly pressured the Monarch goal, outshooting the visitors, 15-7, including a 7-3 cushion in shots on goal. The Tribe also twice hit the woodwork in the game's final 15 minutes and generated 10 corner kicks. Doumbia finished with seven saves in goal to earn the clean sheet for ODU.
 
W&M controlled the early going, generating a number of quality chances in the opening 20 minutes. Sophomore Diba Nwegbo had three shots during that stretch, including a pair on frame. ODU's Doumbia did well to push Nwegbo's header just over the bar in the 14th minute and deny his side volley in the 16th minute. Two minutes later, the Tribe strike got behind the Monarch defense but sent his shot over the frame from the right side of the penalty area.
 
The Monarchs scored the game's first goal off a rebound from a corner kick in the 31st minute. The initial attempt came off the foot of Jose Olmos, but junior back James Bradley was able to get a foot to the attempt to keep it out of the frame. ODU's Josh Thaler jumped on the rebound and scored into the left side from 8 yards out to give the Monarchs a 1-0 lead.
 
The Tribe continued to pressure in the second half, outshooting ODU, 8-2, and generating five corner kick compared to just one for the Monarchs.
 
Freshman Michael Meese had a trio of great looks in the second half, including a near goal in the 71st minute. Off a corner kick, the ball made it through the area, before freshman Daniel Salom gained space on the left flank. His cross found the head of Meese who nodded it down to the center of the goal. Doumbia got a foot to it and the ODU defense cleared it away before the ball fully crossed the line.
 
W&M twice hit the post in latter stages of the contest. A Marcos Villeda header off Meese cross in the 77th minute hit the right post, before an Alfredo Bozalongo free kick from the left flank made its way through everyone and rang off the left post in the 87th minute.
 
News and Notes
Redshirt freshman Will Stack earned his first start in goal for the Tribe and finished with two saves … Freshmen Cole Knapp (center back), Joe Core (center back) and Michael Meese (forward) all earned their first collegiate starts in their first collegiate games … Sophomores Alexander Levengood and Diba Nwegbo led W&M with four shots apiece, while Meese had three … Sunday was the Tribe's first match since Nov. 10, 2019, which is a span of 475 days … The Tribe played at the Dillard Complex and will for the remainder of the spring … Albert-Daly Field received an upgrade to its drainage system and new sod on the playing surface, and in an effort to allow the sod to take, no events will be held at Martin Family Stadium during the spring season.
 
Up Next
The Tribe hits the road traveling to George Mason on Saturday, March 6, for a 2 p.m. kick.