Oct. 26, 2004
FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason closes out its 2004 regular season with two critical home games this week. The Patriots take on Towson Thursday at 7 p.m. at George Mason Stadium, before facing Delaware Saturday at 7 p.m. on "Senior Night."
George Mason, which is 4-1-2 at home this season, is tied for sixth-place in the 10-team Colonial Athletic Association league standings with a 3-2-2 record (8-6-3 overall). The top six teams make the CAA Tournament, which begins Tuesday, Nov. 2, and Mason can guarantee itself a spot in the postseason with wins over the Tigers and the Fightin' Blue Hens.
The Patriots are 1-1 in the all-time series with the Tigers that began in 2002. Mason won the first contest, 1-0, at home, but Towson avenged the loss last season with a 1-0 win in Towson.
Mason is 3-0-1 in its all-time series against Delaware, dating back to 2001. The two teams last met in the first round of the 2003 CAA Championships, as the Patriots upset the host Hens', 2-1.
George Mason -- winners of two straight after shutting out UNC Wilmington, 3-0, at home on Oct. 22 and besting visiting Va. Commonwealth, 3-2, on Oct. 24 -- is unbeaten in its last five contests (3-0-2) and 8-0-9 in its last 17 OT matches, dating back to 2001.
On offense, the Patriots are led by senior forward Sarah Wilkinson (Lincoln University, Pa.), who has nine goals and six assists for 24 points - all of which are team highs. Wilkinson scored two goals and two assists last week to earn CAA Player of the Week honors. Freshman defender Jessica Paris (Clifton, Va.) is tied for second on the squad in points (10) with classmate Sarah Fack (Fr.; Algonquin, Ill.). Both have four goals and two assists on the season. Paris was named CAA co-Rookie of the Week after contributing to the shut out victory over the Seahawks, and scoring the game-tying and game-winning goals against the Rams. Defensively, the Patriots are starting two freshmen, including Paris, alongside junior defender Kristin Portell (Woodbridge, Va.) and senior defender Allison Cowan (Shorewood, Minn.). Senior netminder Sarah Coughlin (Hawthorne, N.Y.) owns a 1.70 goals-against average and has 57 saves on the season. She needs 30 saves to own the Patriot career record that stands at 375 (Jaime Pagliarulo, 1995-98).
Towson (6-9-1, 2-4-1 CAA) is in eighth place in the conference race and still has an opportunity at making the tournament. Shannon Jackson leads the Tigers, who have lost four straight contests after going 5-2-1. The junior midfielder has two goals and a team-high 11 assists for 15 points. Freshman goalkeeper Brandi Daniels has started every game in net for the Tigers. She has a 1.62 goals-against average and 97 saves.
Delaware is tied for third overall with a league mark of 4-2-1 (9-4-3 overall). The Hens' have won their last three contests - all of which were at home - and are undefeated in the their last four CAA games. Junior midfielder Shannon Alger leads the team with four goals and five assists for 13 points, while junior forward Allison Kendro is close behind with five goals and one assist for 11 points. Junior goalkeeper Lindsay Shover ranks among the best in the CAA in goals-against average (0.49) and has 35 saves. Sophomore goalie Bonnie Hunt has also seen plenty of minutes. She owns a 1.03 GAA and has made 31 saves.
George Mason will honors its five seniors: Dianna Russini, Wilkinson, Cowan, Coughlin, and Franmarie Gregg in a ceremony prior the match against Delaware Saturday.
