ANNAPOLIS, Md. – In a game that saw quality over quantity in scoring chances, the Navy men's soccer team (0-0-2) used a first-half goal to earn itself a 1-1 draw with non-conference foe William & Mary (0-0-1) on Monday night at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility.
 
While a first-half goal from local rookie Will Cawlfield provided the Midshipmen an early lead in back-to-back contests and junior Dylan Carmody held down the net in his first collegiate start, another lapse in the 70th minute resulted in Navy posting its second-straight draw to begin the 2025 season.
 
Navy found itself looking to score fast, as a Mids' corner kick at 16' nearly rattled in when the Tribe's goalkeeper, Karan Sobti, tipped the ball up and off the goal post, while the 20' mark saw sophomore Duncan Sullivan connect on a shot outside the box that skidded just left of the cage.
 
The Mids finally got through at 28' when sophomore Keane Brown crossed a ball into the box, senior Andrew Schug bodied it down and then allowed Cawlfield to kick it past Sobti into the right corner for Cawlfield's first collegiate tally. A quick response found Carmody swallowing up Aidan Morrison's shot just over a minute later while Navy successfully defended three William & Mary corner kicks over the closing 16 minutes of the half to take the lead into the locker room.
 
Navy tried to extend its lead in the opening minutes of the second half, with freshman Luke Parker putting a shot wide of the cage at 51' and sophomore Wyatt Stevens directing a kick right on target at Sobti about a minute after in their first action of the season.
 
With Carmody catching Gabe Ruitenburg's rifle of a shot from outside the box at 69', the Tribe did not let Carmody deny them again, as Diogo Branco' cross found Ruitenburg at 70', who then chested it down to Morrison to finish off William & Mary's tally and level the score.
 
Both teams attempted to break the tie as time wore on, with freshman Gavin McBride and Schug both having near chances go wide and Sullivan's 80th-minute on-target shot get knocked down by Sobti, while Ruitenburg had multiple chances not make it on cage as the two sides settle for the draw.
 
For Carmody, the Navy keeper made two saves in his college debut, while Sobti also registered two saves on his end of the field. While Navy held the 9-7 shot advantage, the Tribe finished with a wide 8-1 margin in corners.
 
Head Coach Tim O'Donohue Comments
"I am disappointed with the tie and not able to close out a win two games in a row. However, I am very pleased with how we are playing and the level of play from us tonight. We created good chances, hit the bar twice and moved the ball well, generally, but we need to get the result Friday now."
 
Match Notes
• Navy is now 5-8-4 in the all-time series with William & Mary.
• Cawlfield is the second Navy player to score their first collegiate goal in as many games.
• Cawlfield's tally marked Brown's third career assist and the second assist of Schug's four-year tenure in a Navy uniform.
• The two-game undefeated streak to the season is Navy's first such streak since 2021.
 
Up Next
Navy continues the homestand when it hosts Howard in a 7 p.m. match on Friday evening.