June 5, 2003

FAIRFAX, VA ... A total of nine teams that played in the 2002 NCAA Men's College Cup tournament are represented on the 2003 schedule for the George Mason men's soccer team, which is coming off its first winning season in four years.

Several South Atlantic Region foes return to the schedule after an absence of a few years for the Patriots, who finished 8-7-4 overall and 3-4-2 in the CAA last season. Traditional local rivals George Washington, American and Loyola (MD) return to the schedule, joining national "Final Four" participant Maryland and the three CAA representatives - Virginia Commonwealth, Old Dominion and William & Mary - among the South Atlantic opponents on this year's slate. The other Men's College Cup team from last season on the schedule is 2001 NCAA champion North Carolina, and six of the nine come to George Mason Stadium (Mason meets Wake Forest, Maryland and VCU on the road) among 11 home contests.

The Patriots will host the George Mason/Comfort Inn Soccer Classic for the 23rd consecutive year, entertaining Georgia Southern and Appalachian State along with co-host James Madison Sept. 5-7. Mason also will compete in the Dukes' tournament and face its usual strong slate of CAA competition.

"We feel this is one of the most competitive schedules in the country," said Patriot head coach Fran O'Leary. "We're excited about facing nine teams that made the NCAA Tournament last year. The strength of our non-conference schedule should have us well prepared for our CAA games."