Nov. 5, 2006

Box Score

Virginia Beach, Va.--George Mason University's men's soccer team tied #2 Hofstra, 1-1, in the Colonial Athletic Association Championship game, but the #4 Patriots lost the penalty kick shootout, 3-2, Sunday afternoon at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex in Virginia Beach, Va. With this loss, Mason is now 12-5-3 on the year, while the Pride moved to 11-5-3.

This was the second time in CAA history in which the championship contest went into a penalty kick shootout situation, with the first coming in 1997.

In the 29th minute, Hofstra scored the first goal of the day as Bob Youhill weaved through a few Patriot defenders and his attempt from just outside the box went in the left center of the net to put the Pride ahead, 1-0.

Sophomore forward Dan Ames almost tied the contest in the 65th minute as he tried for a header, but Hofstra goalkeeper Tom Johansen tipped it out right at the crossbar.

The Patriots almost tied the game again in the 77th minute as senior midfielder Josh Fleming (Fairfax, Va.) fired a bullet about 10 yards out, but was blocked. Senior midfielder Francis McCardle (Fairfax, Va.) then took a hold of the rebound, but his shot ended up being saved after a scramble at the net.

With just under seven minutes remaining in the game, sophomore Chris Carroll (Annandale, Va.) fed the ball to McCardle, who knotted the game at one, as his header went into the lower right hand corner of the net. It marked McCardle's third goal of the season and Carroll's first helper of the year.

After two scoreless overtime sessions, junior Adam Lobene (Rochester, N.Y.) tapped in the first penalty kick, while sophomore defender Michael Vallie (Rockville, Md.) and senior defender Jacob Weitz (Lovettsville, Va.) missed the next two attempts. Senior Fabien Lewis (Fyzabad, Trinidad) fired his attempt in the center of the net and following a Pride score, the Patriots entered the final round of penalty kicks down, 3-2. Fleming's attempt was tipped up by Johansen and hit the cross bar.

Freshman netminder Sean Kelley (Lexington, Ky.) was in goal the entire game and tallied five saves on the night. Mason outshot the Pride, 26-22, including a 5-0 advantage in the first overtime. Cornerkicks were even at six a piece and Johansen collected seven saves on the afternoon for Hofstra.

Kelley, Fleming and Lewis were each named to the CAA All-Tournament team.