Jan. 13, 2003
Playing one of the toughest schedules in the country, the George Mason women's soccer team struggled at the beginning of the year before coming on strong to enjoy a solid 2002 campaign. The Patriots won seven of their last 10 games to finish 10-11 overall, 7-2 and in second place in the Colonial Athletic Association. Mason also advanced to the CAA Tournament finals for the fourth time in the last seven years.
Head coach Jac Cicala earned CAA Coach of the Year honors for the first time as he guided the Patriots to their 10th consecutive winning record in the conference regular season. Cicala also became the all-time leader in coaching victories for the women's soccer program, improving his 11-year record to 130-87-16 to surpass program founder Hank Leung, who had a 126-58-19 mark in the first 10 seasons.
The Patriots played nine of their first 11 games on the road and faced 11 opponents which advanced to the 2001 NCAA Tournament, including all 10 non-conference foes. Eight of those 11 contests were away from home and contributed to George Mason getting off to a 3-8 start.
But Mason's fortunes changed as CAA play began in earnest in early October. The Patriots won six of their last eight regular-season games, including victories at James Madison (in overtime) and at home vs. Virginia Commonwealth, as senior Katy Robertson twice earned CAA Player of the Week honors as she had five goals in the eight-game span. Earning a bye in the CAA Tournament in Virginia Beach with their second-place finish, the Patriots got a late goal from freshman Danielle MacDonald to defeat third-seeded Hofstra, 1-0, in the semifinals, but they fell to fourth-seeded James Madison, 2-0, in the championship game.
Robertson became the third Patriot (joining Jenn Gross and Jaime Ricker) to earn All-CAA first-team honors four times as she completed a stellar career. Robertson, who also was named to the All-Virginia second team, led Mason in scoring in each of her four seasons (she missed 2001 with a knee injury), contributing seven goals and four assists for 18 points in 2002. For her career, she ranks second in George Mason history with 36 points and 150 points and is third with 57 goals, and she is one of only three Patriots to record 50 goals in a career.
Senior goalkeeper Naomi Hines also had an outstanding finish to her career. Hines earned first-team All-CAA, All-Mid-Atlantic Region and All-Virginia honors as she did not allow a goal to a CAA opponent during the regular season. Splitting time in most games with sophomore Sarah Coughlin, who received All-CAA second-team accolades, Hines posted 360 scoreless minutes against CAA foes during the regular season and extended that streak to 458:30 with the shutout of Hofstra (her only solo effort of the season) before JMU ended the run early in the CAA Tournament championship game. Hines finished the year with a 1.33 goals-against average with 66 saves in 20 games, including 18 starts, and she shared four shutouts with Coughlin, who posted a 1.71 GAA with 54 saves in 17 games (three starts).
The Patriot defense was solid down the stretch as seniors Jess Delucchi (All-Virginia first team) and Liz Sims joined junior Cara Patton, sophomores Allison Cowan and Lindsay Dittmer, and freshman Kristin Portell in providing a solid line in front of Hines and Coughlin. Mason allowed just seven goals in nine games against CAA foes during the regular season, and opponents scored just 12 goals over the final 10 games.
Several Patriots also supported Robertson on the offensive end. Senior Katy McGee ranked second on the team with six goals and 13 points, while sophomore Sarah Wilkinson added four goals and four assists for 12 points and senior Caroline Kent had four goals and three assists for 11 points. Freshman Amy Alecci had each of her three goals and one assist for seven points against CAA opponents, including two game-winning goals.
