Oct. 14, 2005

Box Score

The George Mason women's soccer team traveled to UNC Wilmington on Friday night looking to even their record halfway through the Colonial Athletic Association schedule. The Patriots came away quite happy after scoring twice early and holding off the Seahawks in the stretch, taking a 2-1 road win.

Mason got a goal from Amy Alecci just 12:20 into the match when she put the ball in the net off a deflect corner kick. It was the first goal of the season for the senior midfielder. Nearly 12 minutes later, Danielle MacDonald made it a 2-0 lead when she scored an unassisted goal, her sixth of the season.

From that point out, it was up to the Mason defense to hold off a quick UNC Wilmington team. The Patriots (7-7-0, 3-3-0) proved up to the task.

"This was without a doubt, the best our defense has played all season," said Mason head coach Diane Drake. "This was the most athletic, most fit, and fastest team we've faced all year. To be able to play with a lead most of the night and hold off that kind of team says a lot about our players, especially our ability to go one-on-one."

Mason also got strong play from goalie Kasey Davenport, as she stopped seven of the eight shots she faced. It wasn't until Liz Chriss scored nearly 10 minutes into the second half that UNC Wilmington (5-9-0, 1-5-0) was able to find the scoreboard.

From that point on, though, Mason play suffocating defense and held off every UNC Wilmington charge.

Mason's win, coupled with Delaware's 1-0 loss to Virgina Commonwealth, places the Patriots in a tie with the Blue Hens for sixth-place. The Patriots continue their road trip on Sunday at 1 p.m. when they play at Georgia State (6-9-0, 0-6-0).