Nov. 7, 2003
HEMPSTEAD, NY ... The sixth-seeded George Mason women's soccer team played to a 0-0 tie in double overtime with No. 2 Virginia Commonwealth in the semifinals of the Colonial Athletic Association Championship Friday at Hofstra Soccer Stadium, but the Rams advanced to the championship game with a 4-3 edge in penalty kicks.
George Mason finished the year with a 9-6-6 record, setting a record for ties in a season. The Patriots are 3-0-6 in overtime games this season and have not lost (6-0-6) in contests that have gone to "extra time" since the 2001 season. Virginia Commonwealth improved to 10-5-4 and will meet No. 4 William & Mary in the championship game after the Tribe defeated top-seeded Hofstra, 1-0.
George Mason dominated play from the beginning of the second half through the two overtime periods. The Patriots thought they had scored the go-ahead goal in the 82nd minute when junior Allison Cowan headed in a corner kick by freshman Heather Bourne, but Cowan was called for fouling the goalkeeper and the goal was disallowed. Mason and VCU tied in total shots at 14-14, but the Patriots held an 11-7 advantage after the first 45 minutes.
Moving to a round of five penalty kicks to determine which team would advance, the Patriots shot first and junior Sarah Wilkinson scored to the lower-left corner of the net. VCU scored on its first opportunity, then both teams missed. Moving to the third shots, Cowan scored to the left side and VCU answered to keep the teams even at 2-2, but the Rams converted their fourth shot while the Patriots missed. Freshman Lauren Podvin converted Mason's final kick to the left side, but VCU scored on its final shot to secure the victory.
Junior goalkeeper Sarah Coughlin, an All-CAA first-team selection, finished the night with five saves to give her 109 for the season, the third-highest total for a season in Mason history. Coughlin holds the No. 2 spot with 121 in 2000 and Jaime Pagliarulo set the school record with 123 in 1997. She also posted her fifth full shutout of the season.
