Oct. 15, 2004
Box Score
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Junior midfielder Danielle MacDonald (Burke, Va.) scored as time expired in the second overtime, giving the George Mason women's soccer team a 3-2 win over Colonial Athletic Association foe Hofstra Friday evening at Hofstra Soccer Stadium. With the win the Patriots see their record improve to 6-6-2 overall and 1-2-1 in the CAA. The Pride, meanwhile, falls to 9-4-1 and 3-2 in league play. The victory was the first CAA win for first-year Mason head coach Diane Drake.
"It was a very competitive match on both ends," stated Drake. "We're extremely happy to get the win, especially over such a great defensive team like Hofstra. The players deserved this victory. It was a great result, and we're looking forward to our game on Sunday."
George Mason scored the game-winning goal on a counter-attack as the clock was winding down. Freshman defender Alison Feldman (Potomac, Md.) played a diagonal through ball to MacDonald, who was breaking down the left side of the field. MacDonald got inside the left edge of the penalty box, and rocketed a shot that went over the fingertips of Hofstra goalkeeper Becky Wachsberger and under the crossbar as time expired.
Adding to the drama of the game's closing moments was that the Hofstra scoreboard wasn't functioning due to the heavy rains. However, the referee indicated that the goal was scored at exactly the 110:00 mark, giving the Patriots the victory. It was also the second time that MacDonald has proven to be Hofstra's nemesis, as she also scored the game-winner late in Mason's 1-0 win over the Pride in the 2002 CAA semifinals for her first career goal.
The Patriots actually had two dramatic buzzer-beaters in the game, as freshman defender Laura Salichs (Alpharetta, Ga.) scored with just three seconds remaining in the first half for her first career goal to even the score at 1-1. Salichs was able to gather in a Hofstra clear 40 yards from goal, took a couple dribbles, and sent a 30-yard shot that sailed towards the upper right corner. Wachsberger was able to tip the ball off the underside of the crossbar, but it inched over the line and into the net to even the score at 1-1.
Hofstra twice held leads in the game, but uncharacteristically was unable to hold either one. Junior midfielder Chrissy Arnone opened the scoring when she knocked in a rebound with 2:25 left in the first half. A shot from Hofstra freshman back Marie Curtin was saved by George Mason senior goalkeeper Sarah Coughlin (Hawthorne, N.Y.), but Arnone beat everyone to the rebound and knocked the ball into the vacated net from three yards out.
After Mason converted on the equalizer just before the half, Curtin gave the Pride a 2-1 lead at the 52:18 mark of the second half when she scored on a penalty kick. However, the Patriots answered right back at the 63:31 mark after the Pride was called for a hand ball just outside the penalty area. Freshman defender Jessica Paris (Clifton, Va.) took the direct kick and placed the ball perfectly over the wall and into the upper right corner.
Coughlin finished the game with nine saves for Mason, which was out shot 15-10, but had a 6-2 edge on corner kicks. Wachsberger had two saves for the Pride, while allowing her highest goal total in her last 38 games, since a 3-0 loss to William & Mary in 2002. She had allowed more than one goal only twice in the 37 games since, including another game in the rain earlier this season at Fordham.
Mason is 2-0-2 in OT games this season and hasn't lost in its last 16 OT contests (8-0-8 since Oct. 19, 2001).
George Mason plays at Drexel Sunday at 1 p.m.
Box Score
1 2 OT OT2 Final
George Mason (6-6-2, 1-2-1 CAA) 1 1 0 1 -3
Hofstra (9-4-1, 3-2-0 CAA) 1 1 0 0 -2
Scoring Summary:
Period Time Team Scoring
2 42:35 HOF Chrissy Arnone (Marie Curtin, Emma Kilduff)
44:57 GM Laura Salichs
52:18 HOF Marie Curtin (PK)
63:31 GM Jessica Paris
2OT 110:00 GM Danielle MacDonald (Alison Feldman)
Shots: GM (10); HOF (15)
Saves: GM- Sarah Coughlin (9); HOF- Becky Wachsberger (2)
Corners: GM (6); HOF (2)
Attendance: 165
