Oct. 29, 2004
FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason closes out its 2004 regular season with a critical home game against Colonial Athletic Association opponent Delaware at George Mason Stadium Saturday at 7 p.m. The contest has also been designated as Diabetes Awareness Night and will include plenty of fun and excitement as well as compelling soccer action for those in attendance. A free "Moon Bounce" will be available for children and families.
The event will also be special as it will mark the final home game for five Patriot seniors: forwards Dianna Russini, and Sarah Wilkinson, midfielder Franmarie Gregg, defender Allison Cowan, and goalkeeper Sarah Coughlin.
As part of Diabetes Awareness Night Saturday, the women's soccer team will have an information table and donation box setup to provide spectators with information from the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and to encourage fans to donate to ADA. The team's goal is to help spread awareness, prevention and treatment for the disease. Children attending the game are encouraged to participate in a Halloween Costume Contest at halftime for prizes and candy. The winner of the contest will receive a signed soccer ball from the members of the Patriot women's soccer team. At the conclusion of the game, spectators will have the opportunity to meet the players.
"It's a cause that's very important to me, because my dad has diabetes and he has been living with it for the past 15 years," expressed Coughlin. "I've seen the effects of what research can do and how it has helped people. My father received an Insulin Pump a few months ago and it has already helped him tremendously in controlling his diabetes. It's the hard work of the ADA and its many supporters that has allowed for such new and advanced technology. And having this event on `Senior Night' is a great fundraiser, and just one of the many ways for me to show my dad how much I love him.
George Mason, which is 5-1-2 at home this season, is tied for fourth-place in the 10-team Colonial Athletic Association league standings with a 4-2-2 league record (9-6-3 overall) and 14 points. Mason shut out Towson Thursday, 2-0, to extend its win streak to three games and its unbeaten streak to six. The Patriots have 14 points in the standings and the top six teams make the CAA Tournament, which begins Tuesday, Nov. 2. Mason can guarantee itself a berth in the postseason with a win or a tie against the Fightin' Blue Hens.
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.
On offense, the Patriots are led by Wilkinson, who has nine goals and six assists for 24 points - all of which are team highs. She is the reigning CAA Player of the Week. Freshman forward Sarah Fack is second on the squad in points (12) with five goals and two assists. Freshman defender Jessica Paris is third (10 points). Defensively, the Patriots have a young unit, that includes Paris, alongside junior defender Kristin Portell and Cowan. Coughlin owns a 1.59 goals-against average and has 59 saves on the season. She needs 28 saves to own the Patriot career record that stands at 375 (Jaime Pagliarulo, 1995-98).
Delaware sits in a tie for sixth place in the league race with 13 points after losing 2-0 at James Madison Thursday night. The Hens (9-5-3 overall, 4-3-1 CAA) need a win over the Patriots to guarantee their spot in the tournament.
