Dec. 11, 2003

FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason University junior Sarah Coughlin (Hawthorne, NY/Westlake) was selected to the 2003 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Mid-Atlantic All-Region First Team, it was announced Monday. It is the second such honor for the standout Patriot goalkeeper, who was also named to the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic All-Region third team in 2000.

As a member of the Region's first team, Coughlin is now eligible for the national ballot, which will be announced at a later date.

The 5-8 Coughlin had an outstanding season as George Mason's netminder, earning All-CAA first-team honors for the second time in her career. She also was a first-team choice as a freshman in 2000 and earned second-team accolades as a sophomore last season (she missed 2001 with a foot injury).

Coughlin concluded the year with 109 saves, the third highest total for a season in Mason history. She holds the No. 2 spot with 121 in 2000. Coughlin started every game in goal, playing 2000 minutes, and posted a 1.04 goals-against average with 5.5 shutouts and an 82.6 save percentage. She tied her career-high of 15 saves versus North Carolina State on Sept. 15.

Coughlin stands second all-time at George Mason with 284 saves and 4,653 minutes between the pipes, and she ranks fifth with 14.25 shutouts. In 60 career games, she has a 1.26 GAA (65 goals allowed).

George Mason finished the 2003 season with a 9-6-6 overall record and a 3-3-3 mark in the CAA. The Patriots were the No. 6 seed in the CAA Women's Soccer Championship and advanced to the semifinal round for the eighth time in the nine years the tournament has been held. Mason also set a school record for most ties in a season.