Sept. 2, 2004

Fairfax, Va.--George Mason University's men's soccer team will open its 2004 campaign with a home game against Longwood on Sept. 3 at George Mason Stadium at 7 p.m. Mason returns 13 letterwinners and nine starters from a squad that finished the 2003 season with an overall record of 11-6-6 (4-2-3 CAA), which was the Patriots' best effort on the field since 1998. Mason advanced to the CAA Championship game for just the seventh time in school history and the first time since 1995, but fell to Virginia Commonwealth. Included in the mix of returners is senior goalkeeper John O'Hara (Foxford, Ireland), who closed out the season second among conference peers with a 0.98 goals against average and was a 2003 All-CAA First Team honoree. O'Hara was also tabbed as a 2004 Third Team Preseason All-America by the College Soccer News and is one of the Patriots co-captains for this season. Damian O'Rourke (Jr.; Shannon, Ireland) who started 20 games for the Patriots and earned 2003 All-CAA First Team honors is Mason's other selection for co-captain. Longwood, which is in a transition period to become an NCAA Division I program beginning this year, played in its first game of the season on Sept. 1, but fell to Liberty by a score of 3-2 in Lynchburg, Va. Junior transfer Leon Malca led the Lancers as he scored both goals for Longwood and freshman Todd Runey dished out one assist on the night. In the overall series, the Patriots hold a 1-0 advantage over Longwood as Mason defeated the Lancers by a score of 2-1 on Oct. 25, 1979. Mason will travel to Loyola (Md.) for its first road game of the season on Sept. 5 (1 p.m.) and will return to George Mason Stadium on Sept. 10 for the first day of the Mason/Comfort Inn Soccer Classic.