WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Freshman Aidan Gatchell scored his third goal of the season, but William & Mary men's soccer fell to Elon, 3-1, on Saturday evening at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field.
After the Phoenix carried a 1-0 advantage into halftime, Gatchell pulled the Tribe level in the 56th minute. Elon answered with a pair of goals less than two minutes apart to regain control and hand W&M its first home CAA loss of the season.
The setback moved William & Mary to 5-5-1 overall and 2-2-1 in CAA play, while Elon improved to 7-2-2 and 2-1-2 in league action.
Elon held a 13-8 advantage in shots and a 9-3 edge in corner kicks. The Tribe put three attempts on goal, while senior Diego Garciarena made three saves. Gatchell finished with a team-high-tying two shots, while senior Gabe Ruitenberg and junior Thor Sigurjonsson each put an attempt on frame.
First Half
Elon opened the scoring in the seventh minute. Jordin Wilson found the back of the net at the 6:53 mark off assists from Oscar Tonidandel and Daire McCarthy to give the Phoenix an early 1-0 advantage.
Garciarena kept the deficit at one in the 22nd minute, turning away an attempt from Wilson.
Sigurjonsson generated W&M's first shot in the 20th minute, sending an attempt high. The Tribe later earned back-to-back corner kicks in the 39th and 40th minutes as it looked for an equalizer.
Gatchell produced W&M's final chance of the opening half in the 45th minute, but his attempt went high as Elon carried the 1-0 lead into the break.
Second Half
The Tribe found its equalizer at the 55:54 mark. Gatchell scored his third goal of the season to pull W&M even at 1-1.
Ruitenberg nearly put the Green and Gold in front less than a minute later, putting an attempt on frame that Elon goalkeeper Drew Hartman saved.
The Phoenix regained the lead in the 62nd minute when Joe Taylor scored off assists from Tonidandel and Weston Jonke. Elon extended its advantage just 1:29 later as Martin Kozak converted a penalty kick to make it 3-1.
W&M continued to push over the final 25 minutes. Freshman Ethan Roemisch sent an attempt high in the 65th minute before Sigurjonsson put a shot on goal in the 78th that Hartman stopped.
Ruitenberg followed with an attempt in the 79th minute, and sophomore Damen Burney recorded the Tribe's final shot in the closing seconds, but W&M could not cut into the deficit.
Up Next
William & Mary continues its three-game homestand Thursday, Oct. 8, welcoming Howard to Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., with the match streamed live on FloCollege.
The meeting will be the first between the Tribe and Bison since 1996.
