Oct. 15, 2003

FAIRFAX, VA ... The George Mason soccer teams are each enjoying their best seasons in several years, and the national recognition continues to roll in.

For the third straight week and the fourth time in the last five, the Patriot women (7-2-3 overall, 2-0-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association) are ranked in the NSCAA and Soccer Buzz Mid-Atlantic Region polls, reaching their highest ranking of the season in each at No. 7.

Meanwhile, the Mason men (7-3-4 overall, 2-0-2 CAA) are ranked 17th in the latest NCAA Division I statistics report for shutout percentage at 0.50 per game (seven in 14 contests). The Patriots, however, are unranked in the NSCAA South Atlantic Region poll for just the second time in the first six weeks. George Mason reached as high as a tie for No. 6 in the region on Sept. 15.

Unbeaten (3-0-3) in their last six contests, the George Mason men are in second place in the CAA with eight points as they enjoy their best conference start since going 3-0 to start the 1995 slate of league games. The Patriots also travel to UNC Wilmington (tied for third with six points at 2-2) and VCU (first with nine points at 3-1) this weekend, meeting the Seahawks Friday and the Rams (ranked 18th nationally by the NSCAA and 19th by Soccer America) Sunday.

The Patriot offense has been excellent with 22 goals in 14 games as sophomore Steve Alabi, who was ranked nationally for goals and points per game until this week, leads the team and is first in the CAA with nine goals and 21 points. Junior Karim Manneh, a transfer this season from Alabama A&M, has joined with Alabi to provide a potent 1-2 punch up front as he adds eight goals (second in the CAA) and 18 points (third).

The Mason defense also has been solid, posting the seven shutouts and allowing just two goals over its last six games. Junior goalkeeper John O'Hara is third in the CAA with a 1.01 GAA and six full shutouts, while the defensive unit - seniors Keith Nakai and Mirza Kurspahic, junior Danny Climo and sophomores Damian O'Rourke and Anthony Noreiga - have been a solid force while also contributing to the offense. The five defensive players have combined for nine assists, paced by Climo's team-leading four assists and Nakai with three, while O'Hara also got into the act with an assist off a long clearing kick.