Sept. 17, 2004

Box Score

Queens, N.Y. - George Mason University's men's soccer team (3-2-0) surprised 10th-ranked Saint Louis 3-0 in the first game of the St. John's Nike Classic at Belson Stadium. It was the Billikens' worst loss since a 4-0 decision to UAB in the 1999 Conference USA championship match in Birmingham.

The Patriots dominated the first half while building a 2-0 lead. Mason fired the first eight shots of the game before Billiken midfielder Danny Wynn fired just wide of the left post in the 22nd minute. Patriot junior forward Teba McKnight put Mason on the board in the 26th minute after a SLU giveaway in the midfield. McNight lofted a 22-yard shot into the upper right corner out of Bills keeper Pat Disbennett's reach.

Mason senior forward Barry Suber added to the lead in the 34th minute. Sophomore midfielder Josh Fleming knocked down a Bills clearing attempt and sent a low drive into the SLU penalty area. Suber settled it, pivoted and fired a low 12-yard drive into the right corner. The Billikens nearly cut into the lead in the 43rd minute when midfielder Alex Matteson found Will John seven yards to the left post, but John's shot hammered off the goal post. Mason out-shot the Bills 10-4 in the opening half.

"This was a very big win for George Mason against one of the most highly rated teams in the country," said head coach Fran O'Leary. "It was a great team performance and this is a result we hope to build upon during the remainder of the season."

Saint Louis pressed the attack in the opening moments of the second half and had six corner kicks in the first 15 minutes. Off one of John DiRaimondo's corners in the 51st minute, DiRaimondo got off three straight shots from eight yards off the right post. Mason senior goalkeeper John O'Hara stopped the first, the rebound came back to DiRaimondo and Patriots' defender Anthony Noriega stopped the second attempt. The rebound came back to DiRaimondo, and O'Hara parried the next shot over the end line.

In another anxious moment for Mason, DiRaimondo danced among three Patriots defenders before sending an 18-yard shot rolling just outside the left post. Mason ended any thought of a SLU comeback on senior midfielder David Quinn's goal at 69:22. Quinn appeared to be sending a cross from the right flank to the far post, but it glanced off Disbennett's fingertips and fell into the goal.

Mason out-shot the Billikens 14-11, although SLU had an 8-4 edge on corners. O'Hara made two saves to post the shutout, while SLU's Disbennett stopped three shots.

The Patriots will return to action when they face Seton Hall on Sunday in South Orange, N.J. at 3 p.m.