April 26, 2004

Fairfax, Va.--George Mason University sophomore Damian O'Rourke (Shannon, Ireland) has been chosen to represent George Mason at the 2004 NCAA Leadership Conference from May 30-June 3 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex and Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

The committee received 1,175 nominations from 295 institutions, with Mason nominating four student-athletes. From a list of institutions that met all of the established guidelines and representatives from the Division I, II and III national Student-Athlete Advisory Committees, a total of 324 student-athletes have been selected to participate in the 2004 NCAA Leadership Conference.

O'Rourke is a midfielder on the men's soccer team and was named to the 2003 University Division men's soccer Virginia first team. O'Rourke also earned All-CAA First Team honors for his efforts during the 2003 campaign and was instrumental in helping the Patriot defense post 10 shutouts in 2003. Mason entered the week prior to the CAA Tournament ranked 12th in the nation for shutout percentage at 0.50 per game. O'Rourke missed three games due to injury but started the other 17, contributing a goal and an assist for three points (all in a 2-1 overtime victory at UNC Wilmington on Oct. 17). For his career, he has four goals and four assists for 12 points.

Mason closed out the 2003 regular season with an overall record of 11-6-6 (4-2-3 CAA) and advanced to the championship game of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament for the third time in school history.