WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — William & Mary men's soccer returns to CAA action Saturday afternoon, traveling to face Charleston in a pivotal South Division matchup in Mount Pleasant, S.C.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m., with the game streamed live on FloCollege.
THE TRIBE. William & Mary enters Saturday at 7-5-1 overall and 2-2-1 in CAA play following a dominant 4-0 victory over Navy on Tuesday evening at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field.
Freshman Brown Huffard recorded the first multi-goal game of his collegiate career, scoring in the 25th and 62nd minutes. Sophomores Beckham Harris and Alex Garrison also found the back of the net as the Tribe scored three second-half goals.
The victory marked W&M's second consecutive 4-0 win after defeating Howard by the same score just over a week ago. The Green and Gold have outscored their opponents 8-0 over their last two games, recording back-to-back shutouts.
The Tribe's seventh victory of the season matched the program's highest win total since 2021, when W&M finished 7-7. William & Mary also improved to 5-2 at home, recording its most home victories since 2017.
W&M has scored 29 goals through 13 games, ranking second in the CAA with 2.23 goals per game. The Tribe have also been particularly productive after halftime, scoring 20 of its 29 goals in the second half.
HUFFARD HEATING UP. Huffard continues to shine during his freshman campaign, leading the Tribe with six goals and ranking third on the team with 13 points.
The three-time CAA Rookie of the Week selection recorded his first career brace against Navy, scoring twice to help W&M secure its second consecutive shutout victory.
Huffard has scored in back-to-back games, finding the back of the net three times over that stretch. His six goals are tied for second in the CAA alongside Charleston's Matt Lenert.
The freshman has scored on six of his 13 shot attempts this season and has recorded two game-winning goals.
LEADING THE WAY. Senior Gabe Ruitenberg and freshman Aidan Gatchell are tied for the team lead with 16 points apiece.
Ruitenberg has recorded four goals and eight assists this season, with his eight assists tied for the CAA lead. The senior has registered two assists in each of the Tribe's last two games, including helpers on Huffard's second goal and Harris' goal against Navy.
Gatchell has tallied five goals and six assists during his freshman campaign. He was named the CAA Rookie of the Week on Monday and earned TopDrawerSoccer Men's Team of the Week honorable mention recognition Tuesday following his five-point performance against Howard.
Garrison ranks fourth on the Tribe with 11 points on five goals and an assist, while Harris has scored three goals this season, including one in each of W&M's last two games.
Ruitenberg, Huffard and Garrison have each recorded two game-winning goals this season.
GARCIARENA IN GOAL. Senior Diego Garciarena has started all 13 games in goal for the Tribe, recording 46 saves and four shutouts.
Garciarena owns a 7-5-1 record with a 1.54 goals-against average and a .697 save percentage. He has played nearly every minute for W&M this season.
The senior recorded his fourth clean sheet of the season and ninth of his collegiate career in Tuesday's victory over Navy, making one save as the Tribe limited the Midshipmen to just one shot on goal.
Garciarena ranks second in the CAA with four shutouts this season and has helped W&M hold its opponents scoreless in consecutive games.
THE COUGARS. College of Charleston enters Saturday at 7-3-3 overall and 2-2-2 in CAA play following a 1-0 setback at North Florida on Tuesday.
The Cougars have scored 21 goals through 13 games while allowing 16, averaging 1.62 goals per contest. Charleston is 4-1-2 at home this season.
Lenert leads the Cougars with 15 points on six goals and three assists. The senior is tied with Huffard for second in the CAA in goals.
Stian Bendvold ranks second on the team with 13 points on five goals and three assists, while Henrik Boer has added eight points on two goals and four assists. Kira Fukuda leads Charleston with five assists.
Marten Brink has started all 13 games in goal, recording 31 saves, a 1.23 goals-against average and a .660 save percentage.
Saturday will also serve as Charleston's Senior Day, with the Cougars honoring their senior class before their final home game of the regular season.
TRIBE VS. COUGARS. William & Mary holds a 14-5-3 advantage in the all-time series against College of Charleston.
The programs met earlier this season on Sept. 5, when the Tribe earned a 2-0 victory at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field.
After a scoreless opening half, W&M broke through in the 49th minute before adding a penalty kick in the 63rd to secure the victory.
Both teams finished with 14 shots, while the Tribe held an 8-4Â advantage in corner kicks.
William & Mary's most recent road victory against Charleston came on Sept. 28, 2019, when the Tribe earned a 2-0 win.
CAA PICTURE. Saturday's game carries significant implications in the CAA South Division standings as the regular season enters its final stretch.
UNCW leads the division with a perfect 5-0 conference record and 15 points, followed by Elon with nine points. Charleston sits third with eight points at 2-2-2, while William & Mary is fourth with seven points at 2-2-1.
A victory Saturday would move the Tribe ahead of Charleston in the South Division standings.
W&M has three conference games remaining, traveling to Charleston and Campbell before returning home to face No. 20 UNCW in the regular-season finale.
BACK ON THE ROAD. Saturday marks the beginning of a three-game road stretch for William & Mary after completing its three-game homestand with victories over Howard and Navy.
The Tribe are 2-3-1 away from Williamsburg this season, with road victories over UMBC and American.
W&M will play its final two regular-season road games at Campbell on Oct. 24 and North Carolina on Oct. 27 before returning home for its regular-season finale.
WHAT'S NEXT. William & Mary continues CAA action Saturday, Oct. 24, traveling to face Campbell in Buies Creek, N.C. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
The Tribe then travel to North Carolina on Tuesday, Oct. 27, before closing the regular season Saturday, Oct. 31, against No. 20 UNCW at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field. Kickoff for the home finale is set for 2 p.m., with the game streamed live on FloCollege.
