WASHINGTON – A spectacular goal from William & Mary's Gabe Ruitenberg put the American University men's soccer team behind the Tribe in the first half of Tuesday afternoon's match, and the Eagles failed to find an equalizer despite creating multiple scoring chances on the comeback trail. With the 1-0 loss, AU drops to 1-5-3 on the season.
How it Happened
- Pace of play was fluid in the first half, with both teams penetrating their respective attacking thirds and finding space for shots. The Eagles totaled eight shots and put three on goal, while the Tribe took seven and also found the frame three times.
- Chris Sullivan had AU's best chance of the half, challenging Diego Garciarena at the near post from inside the box in the 19th minute.
- W&M's goal came 16 minutes later, when Ruitenberg perfectly placed a shot from the top left corner of the box into the top right corner of the net. He struck it off the cross bar, and the ball dropped over the goal line.
- AU probed for a game-tying goal in the second half and was nearly rewarded in the 71st minute. The Eagles recycled possession after a free kick was cleared out of the W&M box, and Oliver Snowdon lofted a ball back in from just in front of midfield. Moad Ezzahir slipped behind The Tribe's back line onside and headed Snowdon's delivery to the bottom right corner, but Garciarena made a diving stop just before the ball could trickle over the goal line.
- American kept the majority of the possession the rest of the way, but couldn't create another shot on goal.
Up Next
- AU is back at home on Saturday, October 3 to face Bucknell at 1 p.m. on Alumni Day.
Keep Up With Us
- For the latest on American University Men's Soccer, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on X (@AU_MSoccer) and Instagram (@au.msoccer).
