CHARLESTON, S.C. - The College of Charleston secured a convincing 3-1 victory over William & Mary in a crucial conference matchup on Saturday evening at Patriots Point. The win improved the Cougars' record to 4-6-1 while William & Mary fell to 0-6-3 on the season.
Matt Lenert opened the scoring for Charleston in the 6th minute with a low drive to the left corner. The Cougars doubled their advantage through Stian Bendvold in the 41st minute before William & Mary's Diogo Branco pulled one back just before halftime. Ben Bagshaw sealed the victory for Charleston with a second-half strike.
The first half saw Charleston assert early dominance, with Pavel Dashin testing the William & Mary defense in the 5th minute with a shot that went wide right. The Cougars maintained pressure through the opening period, with Caio Hughes and Ezra White both forcing blocked shots in the 13th minute. William & Mary showed resilience through Lucas Caldas, who registered a dangerous attempt in the 8th minute, while Hamilton Howes saw his shot blocked in the 8th minute.
The second half featured increased attacking intent from both sides. Lennon Gill threatened twice for Charleston in the 47th minute, while William & Mary's Gabe Ruitenberg had multiple attempts on goal, including shots in the 63rd and 77th minutes. The Tribe pushed forward in search of an equalizer, but Charleston's defense, led by Dan Toulson, held firm despite sustained pressure.
Statistically, both teams registered 17 shot attempts, though Charleston held the advantage in shots on target (7-3). The Cougars dominated the corner kick count 8-2, showing their superior set-piece opportunities. The physical nature of the match was evident with multiple fouls called, including a yellow card shown to Charleston's James Barrett in the 87th minute for unsporting behavior.
Individual performances highlighted the evening, with Stian Bendvold particularly effective for Charleston before being substituted in the 75th minute. Sam Delgado showed creativity for William & Mary with multiple shot attempts, while Thor Sigurjonsson controlled the midfield despite the losing effort. Both goalkeepers were tested throughout, with Charleston's keeper making four crucial saves to preserve the victory.
Tactically, Charleston's approach focused on wing play and quick transitions, utilizing the speed of Pavel Dashin and Matt Lenert to create opportunities. William & Mary attempted to build through the middle, with Lucas Caldas and Diogo Branco combining effectively at times, though struggling to find the final touch in crucial moments.
The result continues contrasting trajectories for both programs. Charleston's victory snaps a two-game losing streak and provides momentum heading into their next fixture. For William & Mary, the loss extends their winless run, though moments of quality suggested potential for improvement.
Looking ahead, William & Mary will seek to rebound when they host American University on September 30th at 6:00 PM, while Charleston travels to face Campbell on October 4th at 6:00 PM. The Cougars will look to build on this performance, while the Tribe must find answers to their scoring challenges as the conference schedule continues.