VESTAL, N.Y.— The William & Mary men's soccer team started their 2024 season with a bang, using three first half goals, two from Lucas Caldas, to secure a 3-0 win at Binghamton on Wednesday night.
 
After being idle the first week of the regular season, Chris Norris' squad showed no signs of rust in the season lid lifter.

Cole McNally scooped up an easy save in the early moments before Lucas Caldas provided W&M a 1-0 lead just seven minutes into the match.
 
Evan Rabush played a ball from the right side that was tapped  by Sam Delgado toward goal. Caldas was waiting there to finish off the play and put W&M up 1-0.

Caldas, a junior, earned a spot on the Preseason All-CAA team two weeks ago.
 
The Tribe kept the pedal to the metal, looking to extend their lead, with Diogo Branco having a close call,  barely missing high, in the 22^nd minute.
 
Delgado, in his first career game with the Tribe, was merely inches away from scoring in the 27^th minute after picking up an assist on the Caldas goal. The Rutgers transfer jumped high in the air and had his header rattle the crossbar, off a cross from Gabe Ruitenberg, and the W&M lead stayed 1-0.
 
The Tribe's persistence paid off minutes later when Caldas beat his defender and cut in from the left side to blow a shot past the Binghamton keeper, making it 2-0 in the 31^st minute.
 
The Green and Gold added another insurance goal before halftime, as Tre Barrett made his collegiate debut a memorable one.
 
The freshman from nearby Hampton, capped a long run by burying his shot from 12 yards out, giving W&M a 3-0 lead in the 41^st minute, a lead they would take to the halftime break.
 
Binghamton had only allowed two shots on goal in their first two games of the year, but through the opening 45 minutes the Tribe outshot the Bearcats 9-4, with four shots on target, to build a three-goal lead.
 
The Bearcats seemed determined to find their first goal of the evening coming out of the halftime break, but were stymied by the Tribe's defensive unit.
 
After some nice plays by the backline, McNally came from his position in net to cut off multiple cross attempts and make sure W&M held onto their 3-0 lead 12 minutes into the second.
 
The Bearcats ended up taking all five shots in the half, as the Tribe sat back to protect their lead, and did so successfully, taking a 3-0 win to kick off the 2024 campaign.
 
McNally racked up four saves on the evening for W&M, posting his fifth clean sheet in 17 career starts with the Green and Gold.
 
The Tribe is now 3-0-1 in the last four season openers.
 
Starters
W&M- #1 McNally (GK), #2 Howes, #3 Smith, #8 Delgado, #9 Caldas, #11 Morrison, #15 Delgado, #16 Rabush, #18 Ruitenberg, #19 Katsari-Hoefer, #21 Cooper
BING- #1 McDermott (GK), #3 Onwuere, #4 Yates, #5 Comber, #6 Cavalar, #8 Clark, #9 Lopes, #10 Cohen, #15 Kaldor, #21 Egan, #27 Nahim
 
Scoring
7'|W&M-Lucas Caldas (Sam Delgado)
31'|W&M- Lucas Caldas (Augie Cooper)
41'|W&M- Tre Barrett

Up Next
The Tribe travels to New Hampshire for a Saturday match at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.