Oct. 5, 2006

Next up for the Patriots (8-2, 4-0 CAA):
Oct. 6: vs. Delaware (4-3-2, 2-2), 7 p.m.
Oct. 8: vs. Drexel (5-5, 1-3), 2 p.m.
George Mason Stadium; Fairfax, Va.

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Series Records...

Mason has never lost a game to Delaware as the Patriots hold a 4-0-1 advantage in the overall series against the Blue Hens. Last season, Mason shut-out UD by a score of 1-0 in Newark, Del. on Oct. 21.

The Patriots hold a slight edge in the overall series against Drexel, 3-2-1. In 2005, Mason defeated the Dragons in Philadelphia, Pa. by a score of 3-2 on Oct. 23.

In the Rankings... Mason is ranked for the first time in more than four years as the Patriots currently sit 29th in the College Soccer News National Poll that was released on Oct. 2.

Sitting on Top... With a perfect 4-0 CAA record, Mason currently sits first among conference schools heading into this weekend's competition.

Seventh Heaven... Mason is currently riding a seven game win streak and the Patriots have not accomplished this feat since the 1998 season where they won nine in a row.

Among the Best... The Patriots are tied for tied for eighth in the nation in shutout percentage (0.60), 19th in save percentage (.844) and 23rd in goals against average (0.69).

Minding the Net... Freshman goalkeeper Sean Kelley has been in net this entire season for the Patriots and has collected six shutouts on the year. Kelley currently sits 22nd in the nation in save percentage (.844) and is 25th in goals against average (.693).

Where in the CAA?... As a team, Mason is tied for first in the Colonial Athletic Association in goals allowed average (0.70), is second in goals against average (0.69) and is tied for first in shutouts (6).

About the Competition... Delaware split last weekend at home as the Blue Hens fell to VCU by a score of 3-2 on Sept. 29, but rebounded with a 3-2 win over Madison on Oct. 1.

Drexel also split on the weekend in Philly as the Dragons were shutout by JMU, 3-0, but then claimed a 1-0 win over VCU on Sunday.

Last Weekend...

Mason extended its win streak to seven this past weekend and kept its flawless Colonial Athletic Association record. The Patriots were on the road and first defeated UNC Wilmington on Sept. 29, 3-1, and then went ahead and claimed another shutout victory two days later against Georgia State, 3-0. Against the Seahawks, the scoring was opened up in the 21st minute, but it was credited as an own goal as a low cross inside the box from sophomore Jonathan Borrajo was deflected by UNCW's Kevin Weis into the net. In the 43rd minute, senior midfielder Francis McCardle accepted a pass from the left side and headed it down, but Brad Knighton saved that try. Freshman Rich Stone was there for the rebound and knocked it in for his first collegiate goal, which put the Patriots up by two. About 10 minutes later, sophomore Chris Carroll slipped the ball to junior defender Adam Lobene, who then dribbled it up and as Knighton came out to try and save the try, Lobene laid it across to senior midfielder Josh Fleming. Fleming then tapped the ball into the open net on the right side for his first goal of the season and Mason's final goal of the night. On Sunday, sophomore Chris Carroll scored just 1:25 into the match, an unassisted goal that went into the lower left corner of the net. The game remained without a second goal for more than 60 minutes until Fleming scored in the 62nd minute. Fleming got past the defense and made the most of his one-on-one opportunity with the Georgia State goalkeeper, beating Filipe Carvalho to the right for a 2-0 lead. Georgia State's Alberto Villarreal needed three minutes to close the gap as he scored an unassisted goal at the 65-minute mark. It was only the third goal allowed by Kelley during Mason's winning streak. The Patriots added an insurance goal in the 86th minute. This time, Fleming found Carroll who beat Carvalho one-on-one, again to the lower left corner of the net. With the two goals, Carroll takes over the team lead with three goals on the season. His six points ties Adam Lobene and Fleming for the team lead in that category.