Aug. 16, 2002

The George Mason University women's soccer team has been selected to finish third in the Colonial Athletic Association this season, while the men have been selected sixth in CAA preseason polls. Choices were made by the league's 10 head coaches in each of the sports, and coaches could not vote for their own team. William & Mary and James Madison were selected first and second, respectively, in both polls. The Tribe received nine first-place votes and the Dukes received the other in the women's poll, and George Mason was a close third with 67 points to JMU's 69. Old Dominion was chosen fourth and was followed by Hofstra, Virginia Commonwealth, Delaware, UNC Wilmington, Towson and Drexel. Delaware, Drexel, Hofstra and Towson officially join the CAA this season after leaving the America East Conference.

The Patriots were 9-11-1 last season, 4-1 in the CAA. Seven starters and 19 letterwinners return from last year, led by All-CAA first-team selections senior defender Jess Delucchi and sophomore forward Sarah Wilkinson. Wilkinson led the Patriots with eight goals and six assists for 22 points last season, and another key returnee is three-time All-CAA forward Katy Robertson, who missed the 2001 campaign with a knee injury. She returns for her senior year as one of just three Patriots ever to record 50 goals as she adds 32 assists and 132 points for her career.

Following William & Mary and James Madison in the men's poll were Old Dominion, Virginia Commonwealth, Towson, George Mason, Hofstra, Drexel, UNC Wilmington and Delaware. William & Mary received five first-place votes, Old Dominion and VCU each received two and Towson, the America East champion last fall, received one first-place vote.

George Mason was 8-9-1 overall and 2-3 in the CAA last season. Six starters return to lead the Patriots in 2002, including sophomore goalkeeper John O'Hara (the 2001 CAA Rookie of the Year) and junior defender Keith Nakai, each of whom earned All-CAA second-team honors. Senior forward Laszlo Juhasz, who had five goals and one assist for 11 points, is the leading returning scorer.