Nov. 14, 2002

George Mason University freshman defender Damian O'Rourke was named co-Rookie of the Year and joined teammates sophomore goalkeeper John O'Hara and freshman forward Steve Alabi in being named to the all-conference teams at the 2002 Colonial Athletic Association Men's Soccer Awards Banquet Thursday in Virginia Beach, VA.

O'Rourke, who shared the award with UNC Wilmington freshman midfielder Nick Acosta, joined O'Hara (2001 winner) as the only Patriots to earn CAA Rookie of the Year honors. O'Hara was George Mason's only All-CAA first-team selection after being a second-team pick last season, while O'Rourke and Alabi were chosen to the second team this year.

A 6-2, 180-pound native of Shannon, Ireland, and a graduate of St. Patricks College, O'Rourke made a difference for the Patriots both on offense and defense in 2002. An excellent central defender, he helped anchor a Mason defense that posted eight shutouts and a 1.04 goals-against average in 19 games. Starting all 17 games he played, O'Rourke also moved forward on set plays and contributed three goals and three assists to rank tied for second on the team with nine points.

O'Hara was ranked nationally for goals-against average for much of the season, topping out at No. 5 on Sept. 24. The 6-1, 185-pound native of Foxford, Ireland, and graduate of St. Jarlaths College posted seven full shutouts and shared another as he had a 1.05 GAA (21 goals allowed in 1,806 minutes) over 19 games, and he added 81 saves. O'Hara has played all but 10 minutes of each of the 37 games he has appeared in as a Patriot, posting 142 career saves and a 1.23 GAA with 11 shutouts.

Alabi, a 5-8, 150-pound resident of Rotterham, England, and a graduate of Old Hall Comprehensive Secondary School, made an immediate impact on the George Mason offense. Starting 11 of the 12 games in which he played (he missed the first six due to NCAA regulations regarding his international playing background), he led the Patriots with eight goals and added an assist for a team-leading 17 points. He had two multi-goal games, scoring twice in a 3-0 win at James Madison and recording his first career hat trick with three goals in a 4-0 win over Delaware. Seven of his eight goals came against CAA competition.

George Mason concluded its season with an 8-7-4 overall record, the first winning record in four years for the Patriots, and a 3-4-2 mark in the CAA.