Sept. 3, 2006

Box Score

The George Mason women's soccer team suffered its first loss of the season on Sunday afternoon as the Patriots were stunned by American in the D.C. Invitational. The Patriots lost for only the second time in 15 matches against the Eagles, falling to American, 2-1 at Georgetown.

The Eagles (3-0-0) scored early and late, book-ending a Mason goal that came early in the second half. The Patriots (2-1-1) played most of the second half without midfielder Jessica Paris, who left the game with a knee injury. Paris was missed as she normally takes the ball on set pieces. Mason had a few such opportunities in the second half but could not convert.

American scored less than three minutes into the match when Christina Gonzalez stole the ball 30 yards out and put the ball into the upper left corner of the net, past Mason keeper Kasey Davenport. The score stood at 1-0 until four minutes into the second half when Rachel Wiggins headed the ball into the net off a cross from Sarah Fack. For Wiggins, it was the fourth straight game in which she has scored.

The two teams played even until the final nine minutes when American scored the game-winner. Gonzalez chased down a ball on the back line off a pass from Jana Lee. She shot the ball just before running out of bounds on the right side. The ball went on a straight line over Davenport's hands, hitting the left post and ricocheting into the net.

American played defense well enough in to stifle Mason's few scoring chances in the final moments. Wiggins, Fack and L.J. Williams were selected to the D.C. Invitational All-Tournament team.

Mason will have four days off before retaking the field. The Patriots will play Seton Hall on Friday at 4:30 p.m. at the University of Virginia. Mason will then take on nationally-ranked Georgia on Sunday at Noon, also at Charlottesville, Va.