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Nov. 3, 2003
FAIRFAX, VA ... "New life."
That's what the postseason brings in the world of athletics, a time to start with a clean slate and wipe away what may have been less than pleasing over the past weeks or months.
For the George Mason women's soccer team, that is exactly what stands before them: "new life" in terms of the Colonial Athletic Association Women's Soccer Championship. The sixth-seeded Patriots (8-6-5 overall, 3-3-3 in the CAA) hope the "second season" begins successfully Tuesday as it visits No. 3 Delaware (10-5-3, 5-2-2 CAA) at 3 p.m. in the opening round.
The George Mason-Delaware winner advances to meet No. 2 seed Virginia Commonwealth (10-5-3, 5-1-3 CAA) in the semifinals Friday at 5 p.m. in Hempstead, NY. The other first-round match-up features No. 5 James Madison (7-9-2, 5-3-1) at fourth-seeded William & Mary (11-6-2, 5-3-1) on Tuesday, with the winner meeting top-seeded and tournament host Hofstra (13-2-3, 6-1-2) in the semifinals Friday at 7:30 p.m. The championship game is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
George Mason has appeared in each of the eight previous CAA Tournaments, recording a 9-8 overall record. The Patriots have advanced to the championship game four times (1996-97, 2000, 2002), but have yet to come away with the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA College Cup. Mason and Delaware played to a 0-0 tie in double overtime at Delaware on Oct. 24 this season, and the Patriots have a 2-0-1 record all-time against the Fightin' Blue Hens.
A week ago, it appeared the Patriots would be on the outside looking in for this week's CAA Championship, but several fortuitous events helped Mason earn the final berth. Needing at least one victory as it hosted CAA leader Hofstra and last-place Drexel last weekend to stay alive in the playoff hunt, George Mason did a little better: a 1-1 tie against the Pride Thursday and a narrow 3-2 victory over the Dragons Saturday. Those four points lifted the Patriots past UNC Wilmington and Towson into the No. 6 seed and a date with Delaware.
"We feel some new fresh air has come into the season with us making the CAA Tournament," said George Mason head coach Jac Cicala, who has a 138-93-21 record in 12 seasons with the Patriots. "Now we can start over at 0-0 and make the most of this second season starting Tuesday night."
The defense has been the strength of the Patriots this season, as the group led by seniors Jennifer Orr, Cara Patton and Becky Ragard and sophomore Kristin Portell has allowed just 23 goals in 19 games and posted five shutouts. Junior goalkeeper Sarah Coughlin, a second-team All-CAA pick last season and a first-team choice in 2000, has had an outstanding year as she ranks among the conference leaders with a 1.10 goals-against average and 98 saves.
George Mason's offense, which went dormant with a scoreless streak of more than 478 minutes recently, awoke last weekend when it was needed most. Freshman Lauren Podvin scored her first career goal Thursday to help the Patriots gain that critical point against Hofstra, then junior Sarah Wilkinson (who assisted on Podvin's goal Thursday) recorded her second career multi-goal game Saturday with the first two goals against Drexel.
Wilkinson finished the regular season leading the Patriots with 13 points as she tied for the team lead with both five goals and three assists. Sophomore Amy Alecci joined her with five goals and adds two assists for 12 points, while junior Allison Cowan tied Wilkinson for the team lead at three assists. Junior Dianna Russini added four goals and one assist for nine points, giving the Patriots a balanced scoring attack.
