Oct. 19, 2006

The George Mason women's soccer team has had its share of All-Americans and players who have gone on to play for the U.S. National Team but this past week, one former Patriot earned an extremely elite honor as Lisa Gmitter was selected to the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer 25th Anniversary Team.

The NCAA began sponsoring women's championships in 1981 and in honor of 25 years of championships, the NCAA has put together an anniversary team in every sport. The women's soccer team consists of 11 former student-athletes and one coach. The team was selected by an panel of soccer historians and athletics administrators using historical data and online public voting. The team will be honored Nov. 30 in Cary, N.C., site of the 2006 championship.

Gmitter, a forward at Mason from 1983-86, has some lofty credentials as she was a three-time first-team All-American (1983, 1985, 1986), three time member of the All-Tournament Team (1983, 1985, 1986) and a national champion (1985). In 1983, she was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player Offense.

Gmitter's teammates on the 25th Anniversary Team are a veritable who's who of collegiate women's soccer and six of the 11 players competed at North Carolina. Joining Gmitter are Danielle (Fotopoulous) Garrett (Southern Methodist/Florida, Forward), Mia Hamm (North Carolina, Forward),April Heinrichs (North Carolina, Forward), Kristine Lilly (North Carolina, Forward), Cat Reddick (North Carolina, Defender), Jen Renola (Notre Dame, Goalkeeper), Christine Sinclair (Portland, Forward), Tisha Venturini (North Carolina, Midfielder), Aly Wagner (Santa Clara, Midfielder) and Carla (Overbeck) Werden (North Carolina, Defender).

The coach of the team is North Carolina head coach Anson Dorrance who has been National Coach of the Year six times and led the Tar Heels to 17 of the 24 national titles that have been awarded. He led North Carolina to 12 of the first 13 championships in the sport with George Mason winning the title in 1985 to interrupt North Carolina's streak.

Gmitter is third all-time at Mason in points (146), second all-time in goals (64), second all-time in game-winning goals (19) and fifth all-time in assists (18).