Nov. 3, 2006

Virginia Beach, Va.--The first Colonial Athletic Association semifinal men's soccer game came down to a sudden death penalty kick shootout situation and sophomore midfielder Jonathan Borrajo (Clifton, N.J.) nailed his PK attempt to send #4 George Mason (12-5-2) into the CAA Championship title game after defeating #1 Towson (14-1-3), 5-4 in penalty kicks. Prior to the shootout, the two teams tied in double overtime, 1-1, at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex in Virginia Beach, Va. The Patriots have not played in the conference championship title game since 2003.

Towson was ahead 3-1 in the penalty kick shootout, but Mason freshman netminder Sean Kelley (Lexington, Ky.) made back-to-back saves, which allowed the Patriots to draw even after five shooters. Both squads converted their sixth, which Mason's was taken by junior midfielder Jordan Mault (Goshen, Ind.). Kelley then stopped a third shot attempt by Towson that was taken by Jahnai Raynor, which meant that if Mason made the next shot that the Patriots would advance to the title match. Barrajo was the seventh Patriot to face Towson goalkeeper Billy Chiles in the shootout and ended up driving his shot into the left side of the net, which solidified Mason's spot in the league championship game.

The Tigers were the first to score in regulation as Sebastian Hanesel made a run through the box on the right side and threaded a pass past Kelley to a wide-open Pat Healey on the left side, who then poked the ball into an empty net about six yards out for the Tigers' lone goal.

Mason evened the score in the 55th minute as junior midfielder Adam Lobene (Rochester, N.Y.) beat Tiger defender Nigel Marples, who slipped after attempting to head the ball back to his own keeper. Lobene took advantage of the fallen defender and chipped a pass across the box to sophomore forward Dan Ames (Livonia, N.Y.) who then headed the ball into the net for his third goal of the season.

In the 71st minute, Ames tried to put Mason in the lead as he took a strong shot, but it went over the crossbar. Kelley then made a diving save of a point-blank shot by Healey with nine minutes to go and also deflected a 12-yard shot by Towson''s Kevin Ruck wide of the goal with 4:15 remaining for one of his five saves of the night.

This was the third straight match-up between the two teams that has gone into extra sessions, all of which were double overtime games. Most recently, the Tigers defeated the Patriots by a score of 2-1 in Fairfax, Va. on Oct. 27.

With 1990 being the first season in which there was a CAA Championship, Mason has played in the title game three times, but has never won a championship.

Mason will face either #2 Hofstra or #3 Old Dominion in the CAA Championship game on Nov. 5 at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex at 2:30 p.m.