Nov. 6, 2006

The George Mason men's soccer team will find out later today whether or not their season has come to an end or whether the Patriots will advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996. The NCAA Tournament field of 48 will be revealed on Monday between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on ESPNews. First round games will be this Friday and Saturday.

The Patriots are 12-5-3 on the season. It's the most wins by the Patriots since 1998's 13-win campaign and the best winning percentage for the Patriots since the Patriots finished 1992 with a 12-5-3 record.

Mason's most recent result came in the CAA title game when Hofstra claimed the CAA championship over Mason on penalty kicks, 3-2, after the teams tied in overtime, 1-1. Mason advanced to the championship game after tying Towson, 1-1, and taking a 5-4 edge in penalty kicks. Towson entered that contest ranked 15th in the nation according to the NSCAA/adidas poll.

In the last published RPI, which was compiled on Oct. 24 when Mason was 11-4-1, the Patriots were 32nd. With Hofstra having received the automatic bid, and Towson significantly higher in the RPI and national rankings, the Patriots will likely need the CAA to receive three bids if Mason is to make the postseason. The CAA received three bids in each of the past two seasons and three of the past four years.