Sept. 29, 2006

Box Score

Fairfax, Va. - The George Mason women's soccer team found the back of the net a couple of times against UNC Wilmington on Friday night but the Seahawks matched each goal and then some as the Patriots fell to UNC Wilmington 3-2 in Fairfax in Colonial Athletic Association action.

The Patriots entered the game with four players out for the season. The lack of depth has played a large part in the winless streak that is now at six games. Jessica Paris, Mary Raveia, Annie Lebherz and Amanda Schmidt are all out for the year and Mason is still looking for a lineup that can bring consistency to the midfield and back line. The Patriots found consistency in the attack on Friday night, but it wasn't enough to match UNC Wilmington, which had a season-high three goals.

The first score of the game came off the foot of Wilmington's Kelly Renkin. In the fifth minute, she ran up the middle of the field and shot the ball high from 25 yards out over the outstretched hand of Mason keeper Kasey Davenport. It wasn't until the 29th minute that Mason scored the equalizer, ending its five-match scoreless streak. Leslie Cabe got the ball in the middle of the field at the top of the box and her pass perfectly found L.J. Williams on the left side. Williams' shot from 15 yards out went in for her second goal of the year.

Less than three minutes later, Mason (3-7-1, 0-3-0) took its first lead since a 1-0 win over Seton Hall on Sept. 8. Rachel Wiggins took a pass from Sarah Fack, turned at the top of the box, and scored her fifth goal of the year, putting it in the right corner of the net past a diving Jamie Balzarini. The lead only held for nine minutes as Dalton Carruthers scored her first goal of the year, an unassisted shot from 20 yards out on the left corner. Both Davenport and Balzarini finished the half with one save each while Mason held a 6-4 edge in shots. The Seahawks had a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks in the period.

Wilmington (7-3-0, 2-1-0) managed its game-winner in the 66th minute. After Mason failed to convert on a direct kick, the Seahawks charged the other way. Jessica Stallings dribbled up the left side, dropped it off on the wing to Kelly Renkin who put the ball in for the 3-2 lead. The Patriots best chances after that came first in the 80th minute when a corner kick found the head of Kelly Keelan, but it went high; then in the 84th minute, when Leslie Cabe beat a defender but Balarini made a sparkling save. The two goals were the most UNC Wilmington has allowed in a win this year. The Seahawks had one more shot than Mason, 12-11, and two more corners, 7-5.

The Patriots return to action on Sunday when they host Georgia State at 1 p.m.