NORFOLK, Va.— The William & Mary men's soccer team couldn't overcome an early goal from Old Dominion, dropping a 2-0 contest in Norfolk on Tuesday night.
 
Ryan Eapen made eight saves on the evening, the most saves by a W&M (2-4-0) keeper since Danilo Nikcevic made eight in Nov. 2022.
 
The hosting Monarchs put the pressure on Eapen and the Tribe backline early, constantly on the attack.
 
Eapen, making his third straight start in goal, made a pair of athletic saves in the 3^rd and 6^th minute to keep the game scoreless.

That only lasted for another minute however, as the Monarchs grabbed an early 1-0 lead from a shot outside the box.
 
ODU kept the pressure up after the early strike, requiring another solid save by Eapen off a shot in the 14^th minute.
 
The Monarchs took eight of the first nine shots of the game, with the Tribe's best chance of the half coming in the 25^th minute.
 
W&M earned a free kick just outside the 18-yard box, with Tre Barrett firing a shot off the set piece. The Monarch keeper made a sliding stop, but the rebound directed to Jack Crocco, who missed the second chance high, and the Tribe deficit remained one.
 
Eapen was called on for four more saves in the opening 45 minutes, including one with 45 seconds remaining, and was able to keep the game 1-0 ODU heading to the break.
 
The shot total read 11-4 in favor of the Monarchs at the half.
 
ODU played the possession game out of the gate in the second half, limiting chances for the Tribe to strike with an equalizer.
 
The first shot of the half for W&M came from Barrett in the 65^th minute, but the attempt was blocked.
 
The Tribe took the first shot on goal by either team in the half six minutes later. Lucas Caldas made a run behind the ODU backline and was able to put a head on the bouncing ball, but the keeper came out to cut down the angle for Caldas, making the save and the Tribe were still in search of an equalizer
 
Eapen did his best to keep W&M within striking distance, making his eighth save of the day on a close range shot in the 76^th minute.
 
Ultimately the Tribe was unable to solve the backline of ODU while the Monarchs added an insurance goal in the 86^th minute to win 2-0.
 
The final shot tally was 18-6 in favor of the Monarchs. Eapen's eight saves doubled the Tribe's previous season-high of four.
 
Starters
W&M- #2 Howes, #3 Smith, #9 Caldas, #11 Morrison, #12 Barrett, #13 Crocco, #14 Sigurjonsson, #15 Delgado, #19 Katsari-Hoefer, #21 Cooper, #25 Eapen (GK)
ODU- #1 Statham (GK), #4 Watt, #6 Bennett, #7 Arnesen, #9 Ennin, #10 Eberle, #11 White, #12 Redding, #17 Dunne, #22 Randolf, #30 Aktan
 
Up Next
The Tribe returns home to host No. 24 Penn for a Friday match at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on FloFC and is also W&M's Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer. Donations will be accepted at the match for families effected by pediatric cancer.