Nov. 3, 2002

George Mason freshman Steve Alabi helped celebrate "Senior Day" as he recorded his first career hat trick to lead the Patriots to a 4-0 victory over Delaware in a Colonial Athletic Association men's soccer game Sunday afternoon at George Mason Stadium.

George Mason improved to 8-5-3 overall, 3-2-1 in the CAA, while Delaware fell to 2-10-4 overall, 0-5-2 in the CAA.

Alabi scored once in the first half and twice in the second half for his second career multi-goal game (he had two in a 3-0 win at James Madison) and raised his season total to seven goals. It was the first George Mason hat trick since Eduardo Lima accomplished the feat on Sept. 3, 2000, in a 5-4 victory over Iona.

In the first half, Alabi took a long pass from sophomore David Quinn and dribbled into the penalty area before sending a 15-yard shot past the Delaware goalkeeper at 24:58. Alabi took another pass from Quinn and drilled a 12-yard shot into the net 24 seconds into the second half at 45:24, then he took another long pass from senior Matt Friedman, dribbled again into the area and placed a 12-yard shot inside the right post for the final goal of the day at 78:59.

Senior Laszlo Juhasz scored his third goal of the season after taking the ball off a Fightin' Blue Hen defender at 62:22 for the other Patriot goal.

Sophomore goalkeeper John O'Hara had three saves for Mason as he posted his seventh shutout of the season (eighth for the team). Sophomore Kyle Haynes had five saves and sophomore Morgan Funsten added three for Delaware.

George Mason plays its final three games of the regular season on the road, beginning at William & Mary Tuesday at 7 p.m.