Sept. 22, 2005

Fairfax, Va. (September 22, 2005) George Mason will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1985 National Championship in women's soccer on Saturday, September 24, 2005 at George Mason Stadium. The Patriots current team is hosting conference opponent Towson at 5:30 p.m. and during half-time the alumni from the championship team will be honored.

"The 1985 team began the rich legacy of Mason women's soccer. I am very excited to have these special players back to recognize their impressive achievements and give our current players an insight into the journey they took to realizing their dreams," said women's soccer coach Diane Drake.

"The team achieved a feat not many teams or athletes get to experience," said Athletic Director Tom O'Connor. "A National Championship many times puts a program on a map and they did it four years after the program was started. It was an amazing accomplishment and it I look forward to listening to their stories and appreciate what they did for George Mason and women's soccer."

Mason defeated North Carolina 2-0 in the NCAA Championship game on November 24, 1985 before a then-NCAA record 4,500 people in Fairfax, Va. The Tar Heels were 18-1-1, with a loss to UMass and a tie at the hands of George Mason. But UNC had championship experience. The Tar Heels entered the match 10-0 all-time in the NCAA Tournament while Mason was 4-3. Accompanying Mason out on to the field were the bad memories of two years earlier, when Mason had lost to UNC in the national finals, 4-0. In the previous three championship matches, the Tar Heels had not allowed a goal.

How historic was the victory for Mason? Considering that the program was only four years old, that Mason had never won a national championship in any sport, and that North Carolina went on to win nine straight national titles beginning that historic streak the following season, it's fair to say that Mason's 1985 women's soccer national championship was one for the record books.

Events have been planned throughout the day for the returning champions, but they will culminate at George Mason Stadium to watch the game and enjoy a reunion dinner. More than half the team, coaches and administrators from the championship team have committed to celebrating the occasion.