Men's Soccer

American Earns Second Straight 3-0 Shutout, Downs William & Mary

WASHINGTON - Sean Kuykendall scored two goals and Adam Rosen added a goal and two assists to help lead American to a decisive 3-0 win over William & Mary here on Tuesday afternoon. The shutout win was the second straight, and seventh of the season, for the Eagles, who also blanked Lehigh, 3-0, on Saturday.

American (9-7-1) struggled with possession at the start of the game, but capitalized on some early opportunities. Just eight minutes into the contest, Andrew Herman, collecting a lead pass from Rosen, sent a low cross into the box which was volleyed into the goal by a waiting Kuykendall.

Kuykendall finished on a similar play in the 19th minute, when he put home a flick from Rosen, this time played into the box by Kris Bertsch. Bertsch carried the ball to the endline and sent a darting cross goalward. Rosen touched it by a Tribe defender to Kuykendall, who was all alone in front of the goal.

The third Eagle goal came in the 25th minute when Herman cross the ball to Rosen from the left flank. Working in tight space in the middle of the 18-yard box, Rosen eluded a Tribe defender and hit a strong shot past a diving Trevor Upton.

It looked as if American was going to add to the total in the second half, as the Eagles had several excellent scoring opportunities. Yet it was William & Mary (10-7-1) that made a strong run, and if not for some brilliant play by American keeper Michael Behonick, the result could have been much different.

Behonick made three outstanding saves in the second half, two at point-blank range, to preserve the shutout. He stymied an excellent chance by William & Mary's Caleb Stoddart in the 75th minute, and then took the ball off of Carlos Garcia's foot three minute later.

Upton also made an outstanding save for the Tribe, leaping to the cross bar full-extension to pull down an attempt off the head of American's Herman.

A much closer game that the score would indicate, the former Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) rivals tied in shots with 11 each. William & Mary also led in corners, 3-1.

American returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 10, when it hosts Patriot League rival Colgate at 2:00 p.m. in the final regular season match of the season. The Eagles have secured the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Patriot League Tournament, to be hosted by Holy Cross, Nov. 16-18, in Worcester, Mass.

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