Nov. 4, 2007

Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Senior midfielder Chris Cox scored two first-half goals less than five minutes apart to lead the Hofstra Pride to a 3-0 win over George Mason in Colonial Athletic Association men's soccer action on Sunday afternoon at Hofstra Soccer Stadium in Hempstead, N.Y.

With the loss, George Mason falls to 5-10-2 overall and 2-7-1 in the CAA. Hofstra improves to 6-9-2 overall and an even 5-5-0 in the CAA with the win. The Patriots are winless in their past seven matches, with the team's last victory coming on Oct. 12 at Delaware.

Cox got the Pride on the board with 8:43 left in the first half. Freshman forward John Alberda started the play when he sent sophomore back Richard Martinez in behind the defense up the right side. Martinez tried a cross that was blocked by a Mason defender, but the ball came right back to him. He then sent another cross into the middle that found Cox open from 12 yards out and Cox buried a shot inside the left post for his fourth goal of the year.

Just 4:51 later, Cox scored his fifth goal of the season to put the Pride up by two goals. Sophomore midfielder Rob Youhill set up the play with a 50-yard run up the center of the field. He drew a Mason defender to him just outside the penalty area, and laid the ball off to his left. Cox ran into the pass and one-timed a blast that found the side netting inside the right post from 18 yards with 3:52 left in the half.

Hofstra added another goal 10:27 into the second half when freshman midfielder Steven Ehrichs scored his first career goal. Sophomore midfielder Rory McCrea got to a deflected ball in the box and sent a crossing pass into the middle. The ball took one bounce, where Ehrichs was able to crank a half-volley from 12 yards inside the left post.

Sophomore midfielder Richard Edgar led George Mason with four shots in the match, including the Patriots lone shot on goal off of a header that was saved by Hofstra goalkeeper Tom Johansen. Sophomore Sean Kelley and redshirt junior Jeremy Jessup split time in goal for Mason, with each making one save.

Mason will attempt to end its season on a winning note when it travels to Towson, Md. to take on the Towson Tigers in the final match of the season on Thursday, Nov. 8 at 3 p.m.