WILMINGTON, N.C. — William & Mary men's soccer became the first team to score against UNCW this season, but the Seahawks answered with two goals in just over three minutes to rally past the Tribe, 2-1, on Saturday evening at UNCW Soccer Stadium.
Sophomore Alex Garrison broke a scoreless tie in the 54th minute with his third goal of the season, tying him for the team lead. Freshman Aidan Gatchell and junior Thor Sigurjonsson picked up assists on the goal.
Gatchell's assist was his third of the season, moving him into a tie for the team lead, while Sigurjonsson collected his first helper of the year.
The Seahawks, who entered the match with four consecutive shutouts to open the season, responded with goals from Cameron Keay and Bryan Miralrio at the 58:35 and 61:40 marks, respectively, to take the lead.
CAA Defensive Player of the Week Diego Garciarena finished with a season-high seven saves in goal for the Tribe. UNCW held a 20-7 advantage in shots and a 9-3 edge in shots on goal. The Seahawks also held a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks.
The setback moved William & Mary to 2-3-1 overall and 1-1-1 in CAA play, while UNCW remained unbeaten at 4-0-1 overall and improved to 2-0 in conference action.
First Half
UNCW generated the first opportunity of the night in the fourth minute before Evan Rabush put the Tribe's first shot on frame in the eighth minute. Seahawks goalkeeper Trey Smiley made the save.
Garciarena made his first stop of the evening in the 13th minute, turning away Cormac Austin. UNCW continued to apply pressure during the opening half, but the Tribe defense kept the Seahawks off the scoreboard.
Gatchell and Beckham Harris each generated attempts for W&M before Michael DiOrio put a shot on goal in the 44th minute that was stopped by Smiley.
The teams entered halftime scoreless. UNCW held a 10-4 advantage in shots during the opening 45 minutes, while both sides put two attempts on goal.
Second Half
UNCW threatened early after the break, but Garciarena made saves in the 46th and 51st minutes before Christian Acevedo hit the woodwork in the 52nd.
W&M responded by breaking through against a Seahawks defense that had not conceded a goal through its first four matches.
Garrison, who entered the match at halftime, put the Tribe in front at the 53:35 mark. Sigurjonsson and Gatchell combined to set up the sophomore, who found the back of the net for his third goal of the season and gave W&M a 1-0 advantage.
The lead lasted five minutes before UNCW answered. Garciarena initially stopped an attempt from Osei Gyamfi before Keay scored at 58:35 to even the match at 1-1.
The Seahawks took the lead just over three minutes later when Miralrio scored off an assist from Benjamin Gooding at 61:40.
W&M earned back-to-back corner kicks shortly after falling behind, and Harris sent an attempt high in the 68th minute as the Tribe looked for an equalizer.
Garciarena kept W&M within a goal with another save on Gyamfi in the 71st minute and added his seventh stop of the match on Austin in the 85th. The Tribe was unable to find the tying goal over the closing minutes as UNCW held on for the 2-1 victory.
Up Next
William & Mary remains on the road Saturday, Sept. 19, traveling to Baltimore, Md., for a nonconference matchup against UMBC. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
