Oct. 17, 2003

WILMINGTON, NC ... Sophomore Steve Alabi drilled a 10-yard rocket into the left side of the net with 2:27 remaining in the second overtime period to lift George Mason over UNC Wilmington, 2-1, in a Colonial Athletic Association men's soccer game Friday night at the UNCW Soccer Stadium.

The Patriots, playing their fifth overtime contest in their last six outings, improved to 8-3-4 overall and 3-0-2 in the CAA with the victory and remained unbeaten in their last seven games (4-0-3). The Seahawks dropped their third straight to fall to 8-5-1 and 2-3-0.

With time winding down in the second overtime, Alabi, the CAA's top goal scorer, broke the stalemate at the 107:33 mark. Junior Matt Mendy sent the ball into the box from the right side, sophomore Damian O'Rourke headed it down and Alabi delivered the game-winner for his league-leading 10th goal of the campaign.

UNCW opened the scoring at 24:07 when sophomore forward Sam Leger took a volley from the middle and one-touched the ball past Mason junior goalkeeper John O'Hara. Adam Currey and Russell Bienias were credited with assists on the goal.

The Patriots answered, however, at 35:32 when O'Rourke took a cross from Alabi on the right side and knotted the score at 1-all with his first goal of the season. It was O'Rourke's third career three-point game and his second in as many years against the Seahawks.

George Mason outshot UNCW, 11-8, and had nine corner kicks on the night. O'Hara wound up with three saves, while Seahawk goalie Brad Knighton collected five saves.

The Patriots battle Virginia Commonwealth (ranked 18th in the nation by the NSCAA, 19th by Soccer America Sunday at 1 p.m. in Richmond.