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.
The Patriot women are unbeaten (4-0-1) in their last five games and are in a tie for second place in the CAA with seven points (three points for a victory, one for a tie) as they are off to their best start in the conference since opening the 1997 CAA slate at 6-0. Mason goes on the road to meet UNC Wilmington (seventh in the CAA at 1-1-1) Thursday and Virginia Commonwealth (sixth at 1-0-2) Saturday.
Junior goalkeeper Sarah Coughlin and the Patriot defense - seniors Cara Patton, Jennifer Orr and Becky Ragard and sophomore Kristin Portell - have sparked George Mason by recording three consecutive shutouts, all by 1-0 scores. The most recent came Saturday against Villanova, which had been ranked fifth in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Coughlin has a scoreless streak of 365 minutes, five seconds (365:05) and is ranked second in the CAA with a 0.88 goals-against average and 62 saves. She also is tied for third in the conference with three full shutouts.
On offense, sophomore Amy Alecci has combined with juniors Dianna Russini and Sarah Wilkinson for a balanced attack. Alecci leads the Patriots with 10 points on four goals and two assists, while Russini has four goals and one assist for nine points and Wilkinson has three goals and two assists for eight points. Junior Allison Cowan paces the club with three assists.
