Sept. 7, 2003

FAIRFAX, VA ... George Mason scored four goals in a 16-minute span of the first half to defeat Georgia Southern, 4-0, and Appalachian State converted in the last minute of the first overtime period to defeat James Madison, 2-1, in the second and final round of the George Mason/Comfort Inn Soccer Classic Sunday at George Mason Stadium.

George Mason (3-0-1 overall) and Appalachian State (1-1-1), which tied 1-1 in Friday's first round, each finished with a win and a tie in the tournament, but George Mason was declared the team winner on goal differential (plus-4 to ASU's plus-1). James Madison (3-1) finished third and Georgia Southern (0-4) was fourth.

Patriot sophomore Steve Alabi, who had two goals against the Eagles Sunday, was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player of the tournament, while Appalachian State junior Philip Cavicchia, who allowed two goals and had 17 saves in the two games, was selected as the Defensive MVP. They were joined on the all-tournament team by juniors Matt Mendy and Danny Climo and sophomore Damian O'Rourke of George Mason, senior Fredrick Henriksen and junior Keon McPherson of Appalachian State, junior Denny Fulk and sophomore Danny Sheridan of James Madison, and senior Tony Moffat and junior Tommy Irwin of Georgia Southern.

In the second game of the afternoon, George Mason scored on four consecutive shots in the first half to quickly pull away from Georgia Southern. Sophomore Teba McKnight scored his first goal of the season off an assist by Climo at 14:25, then Climo was involved in the scoring once again at 16:46 as he fed the ball to senior Mirza Kurspahic, who crossed it to Alabi for a 10-yard shot and a 2-0 lead. Mendy scored his first goal as a Patriot at 27:39 off assists from McKnight and freshman Chris Mills, and Mills got his second career assist at 30:39 as he fed Alabi for his fifth goal of the year.

Patriot junior goalkeeper John O'Hara had four saves in posting his second full shutout of the season. Senior Kirk Latibeaudiere had three saves in the first half for the Eagles, while freshman Adam Webb made two saves in the second half.

Neither James Madison nor Appalachian State could score in the first half of Sunday's first game, but the Dukes broke the ice early in the second half. Sophomore Bobby Humphrey took a corner kick from the right side and sent it to the far post, where freshman Mark Totten headed it toward the center of the goal and Sheridan headed the ball into the net at 55:11.

The Mountaineers would equalize five minutes later, however, as junior Carter Parrish sent a cross to senior Geoff Christman, who pushed the ball back into the center to Henriksen, who drilled a 12-yard shot into the net at 60:39. The game remained tied at 1-1 until the final minute of overtime, when sophomore Matt Breeding headed in a free kick by senior Brian Fowler at 99:05 for the "golden goal."

Cavicchia posted seven saves for ASU, while freshman goalkeeper Kevin Trapp had four saves for the Dukes.

George Mason returns to action Saturday as it hosts George Washington at 7 p.m.

GAME SUMMARIES

GEORGE MASON/COMFORT INN SOCCER CLASSIC
September 7, 2003


			1	2	1OT	F
Appalachian St. (1-1-1)	0	1	1	2
James Madison (3-1)	0	1	0	1

GOALS:	        ASU - Fredrick Henriksen (Geoff Christman/Carter Parrish), 60:39;
(Assists)	      Matt Breeding (Brian Fowler), 99:05
		JMU - Danny Sheridan (Mark Totten/Bobby Humphrey), 55:11
SHOTS:		ASU - 11
		JMU - 20
SAVES:		ASU - Philip Cavicchia - 7 (99:05)
		JMU - Kevin Trapp - 4 (99:05)
CORNERS:	ASU - 4
		JMU - 7
FOULS:		ASU - 14
		JMU - 15
CAUTIONS:	ASU - Geoff Christman (70:57)
		JMU - Rob Overton (98:58)



			1	2	F
Georgia Southern (0-4)	0	0	0
George Mason (3-0-1)	4	0	4

GOALS:	        GSU - None
(Assists)	GMU - Teba McKnight (Danny Climo), 14:25; Steve Alabi (Mirza Kurspahic/Climo), 16:46;
		      Matt Mendy (McKnight/Chris Mills), 27:39; Steve Alabi (Mills), 30:39
SHOTS:		GSU - 11
		GMU - 15
SAVES:		GSU - Kirk Latibeaudiere - 3 (45 minutes); Adam Webb - 2 (45 minutes); Defender saves - 2
		GMU - John O'Hara - 4 (90 minutes)
CORNERS:	GSU - 4
		GMU - 3
FOULS:		GSU - 29
		GMU - 9
CAUTIONS:	GSU - Tommy Irwin (26:46), Tony Moffat (32:39), Clayton Zelin (86:23), Bench (87:24),
		      Sean Farley (87:35), Patrick Gillen (88:29)
		GMU - None


ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
George Mason:		Steve Alabi (Offensive MVP)
			Danny Climo
			Matt Mendy
			Damian O'Rourke
Appalachian State:	Philip Cavicchia (Defensive MVP)
			Fredrick Henriksen
			Keon McPherson
James Madison:		Denny Fulk
			Danny Sheridan
Georgia Southern:	Tommy Irwin
			Tony Moffat