RICHMOND, Va. – The William and Mary men’s soccer team opened the 2012 season in the VCU Invitational playing Butler to a, 0-0, tie Friday night at the Sports Backers Stadium in Richmond, Va.  In only his second collegiate start, sophomore goalkeeper Bennett Jones registered seven saves en route to posting his first career shutout.  As a result of controlling possession for most of the match, W&M generated quality-scoring opportunities, but was unable to net any scores.

“It looked like an early season game,” stated Tribe head coach Chris Norris.  “However, I was happy with the amount of possession we generated and our ideas were good.  You have to give Butler credit they are an athletic and hardworking team.  Tonight was a match between two solid teams that have the chance to be good.”   

In the early going, the College generated a pair of scoring chances with two shots on goal, both coming from junior Roshan Patel, in the opening five minutes of action.

The Green and Gold controlled possession for the majority of the opening half, as it totaled six shots in the initial 45 minutes.  Although Butler put four shots on goal in the first frame, Jones came up with big four stops and kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard.

In the second half, the Green and Gold had scoring opportunities.  The Tribe’s best chance came in the 84th minute when freshman Jackson Eskay fired a shot on frame that was saved by Butler’s junior keeper Jon Dawson.  Four minutes later, the College engineered another good look when Patel sent a rocket off his foot toward goal, but a Butler defender blocked the shot before it approached the posts.  As he did in the first-half, Jones kept Butler scoreless, tallying three stops in last 45 minutes.

Just three minutes into the first overtime, sophomore Marcus Luster fired a shot on frame that was saved by Dawson.  The Tribe deflected the Bulldogs only shot in the first extra period as it controlled possession throughout.

In the second overtime period, the College tallied a shot on goal, to go along with two shots and two corner kicks.  W&M’s best look came in the 109th minute off of a Patel corner kick.  For the match, the Green and Gold held the advantage over the Bulldogs in shots 17-16.  The Tribe also held the edge in corners, 6-4, and saves, 7-5.

Tribe soccer returns to action Sunday, Aug. 26, against former CAA foe VCU.  Kickoff from Sports Backers Stadium in Richmond, Va., is slated for 7:30 p.m.  Fans can follow along at TribeAthletics.com with live stats or with live streaming courtesy of VCU athletics.  The latter, is a service in which fans will have to pay for.

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