June 5, 2003

FAIRFAX, VA ... A total of four teams that played in the 2002 NCAA Women's College Cup tournament are represented on the 2003 schedule for the George Mason women's soccer teams, which advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament championship game last season.

Defending CAA champion James Madison, traditional conference power William & Mary and regional foes Maryland and Villanova are the four Women's College Cup participants on George Mason's schedule, with all but JMU coming to George Mason Stadium. The Patriots, who were 10-11 overall and 7-2 in the CAA last year, split their two games with James Madison last year, defeating the Dukes on the road during the regular season before falling in the CAA Tournament championship game.

The Patriots also will host an on-campus tournament, entertaining Boston University and North Carolina State along with co-host Delaware in the GMU Invitational Sept. 12-14, and they will travel to UNC Greensboro to meet the Spartans and La Salle in a tournament. Others appearing on Mason's 11-game home slate are regional foes Virginia Tech and Pennsylvania and four of the nine CAA opponents.

"It is always an exciting time to get ready for another season, and 2003 offers yet another challenge for our team," said Patriot head coach Jac Cicala. "Along with facing a very competitive schedule, we must integrate many new players into the lineup to replace our eight graduated seniors. We are all looking forward to another successful year and a return to the CAA playoffs."