Sept. 24, 2006

Box Score

Hempstead, NY - Junior All-American defender Sue Weber (Islip, NY/Islip) set up two goals 46 seconds apart and had a defensive save on the goal line, and junior midfielder Marie Curtin (Kilmallock, Ireland) added two goals, as the Hofstra Women's Soccer team defeated George Mason 3-0 Sunday afternoon at Hofstra Soccer Stadium.

With the win, the Pride improves to 6-3-1 overall and a perfect 2-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Patriots slip to 3-6-1 overall and 0-2 in the CAA with the loss.

Hofstra also extended its home unbeaten streak to 13 games (12-0-1), and has now shut out its last eight CAA opponents at home (a span of 773 minutes and 15 seconds). The last CAA team to score a goal at Hofstra Soccer Stadium was George Mason as time expired in the second overtime in a 3-2 win back in 2004. The Pride's all-time record at Hofstra Soccer Stadium also improved to 24-4-2 since the facility opened in 2003.

The game was deadlocked at 0-0 at the half, before Weber, who was one of 25 players on the preseason Hermann Trophy Watch List, took the game over at both ends of the field. She set up the Pride's first goal on a direct kick from midfield, when she sent a diagonal ball over the top of the George Mason defense that perfectly led junior midfielder Larkin Hargraves (Deep River, CT) in alone on goal along the right side of the penalty area. Hargraves then buried a shot underneath the dive of George Mason goalkeeper Kasey Davenport (Williamsburg, VA/Walsingham Academy) just 1:15 into the second half.

Weber then struck again just 46 seconds later when she won a ball at the top of the Hofstra penalty area. She made a 50-yard run up the center of the field, before slotting a through ball to Curtin. Davenport came off her line, but Curtin was able to chip the ball from the top of the penalty area over Davenport's head and inside the left post to give Hofstra a 2-0 lead just 2:01 into the second half.

Weber then came up big on the defensive end of the field, as George Mason nearly cut the Hofstra lead in half with just under 30 minutes to play. Junior forward Rachel Wiggins (Acworth, VA/Arlington) worked a perfect give-and-go with junior midfielder L.J. Williams (Fairfax Station, VA/Lake Braddock). Williams drew Hofstra goalkeeper Krysten Farriella (Lake Ronkonkoma, NY/Sachem North) out of the net and sent a crossing pass to the far post. Wiggins was in perfect position to slot the ball into the empty net, but Weber sprinted across the field to deflect the shot away just before it crossed the line.

Hofstra added an insurance goal in the final 10 minutes, as sophomore defender Kariena Richards (Midleton, Ireland) sent a short pass to freshman forward Erika Fuertes (Glen Head, NY/St. Mary's). Fuertes then played the ball laterally with a one-touch pass to Curtin, who cranked a shot from 20 yards that tucked into the side netting inside the left post with 8:49 left to go. It was Curtin's second two-goal game of the season, after also having a pair of tallies in a 3-0 win over Fairfield earlier this season.

George Mason had a couple of other close chances in the second half. Junior forward Sarah Fack (Algonquin, IL/H.D. Jacobs) blistered an 18-yard shot that sailed a foot wide of the right post with just under 15 minutes to play. Junior defender Laura Salichs (Alpharetta, VA/Milton) also hit the right post with a shot in the closing minutes from inside the penalty area.

Farriella had two second half saves to combine with sophomore goalie Krystal Robens (East Taunton, MA/Coyle and Cassidy) on the pair's second shutout of the weekend. Robens had one first half save. Davenport finished with three saves for George Mason, which was outshot by a narrow 13-11 margin.

The Patriots will next be in action on Friday when Mason hosts UNC Wilmington at 7 p.m.