WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Hamilton Howes became the third different William & Mary men's soccer player to score in the first three games, but it was not enough for the Tribe in a 4-1 loss to Rutgers on Monday in Williamsburg.
The Scarlet Knights' offense scored three goals in the first half and was able to stave off any W&M comeback effort.
The first half saw William & Mary (0-2-1, 0-0 CAA) trailing early as Rutgers (3-0-1, 0-0 Big Ten) scored three goals in the first 22 minutes of the half. All three tallies came from the foot of Joschi Schelb for the Scarlet Knights.
The Tribe's defense was tested, with
Ryan Eapen making key saves in the 5th and 9th minutes to keep the game scoreless.
Howes managed to break through for the Green and Gold by scoring in the 41st minute.
The goal was the direct result of a William & Mary corner kick, with Howes finishing off a rebound from a shot taken by
Alex Garrison. Garrison's attempt was blocked by a defender in the box and fell to Howes, reducing the deficit to 3-1 as the half concluded.
The second half opened with an assertive defensive effort from Eapen, who made crucial saves in the 55th, 57th, and 61st minutes to keep the scoreline manageable and prevent the Rutgers lead from growing.
Despite the Tribe's attempts to break through, including two shots on target by
Lucas Caldas in the 75th minute and another by
Michael DiOrio in the 78th minute, the Rutgers goalie was up to the challenge.
Ultimately, Rutgers managed to extend their lead with a goal in the 64
th minute, making the final scoreline 4-1.
Eapen put together a strong showing in goal for the Tribe despite being under attack from the Scarlet Knight offense. The junior recorded seven saves on 17 shots faced in his 90 minutes of play. Howes contributed offensively with one goal from his only shot. Garrison provided the team's only assist and managed a shot on goal. Caldas led the team in offensive pressure, taking three shots, all of which were on goal.
Looking ahead, William & Mary will host UMBC on Saturday. The match is set for 1 p.m. at Martin Family Stadium.
