Sept. 12, 2008

Box Score

DALLAS, Texas - The George Mason men's soccer team opened the 2008 Prego's Express Italian Men's Soccer Invitational Tournament with a 3-0 loss to the fourth-ranked team in the nation in the latest NSCAA/adidas Division I Poll, the SMU Mustangs. The tournament is being hosted by SMU at Westcott Field in Dallas, Texas.

Following the loss, the Patriots record stands at 1-2-1 on the season. It is the first time all year that Mason has played a match that hasn't been extended to overtime. The host Mustangs extended their unbeaten streak to five matches to begin the season, improving to 4-0-1 with the win.

Southern Methodist took an early lead in the contest, scoring 3:47 into the match when junior forward Manuel Mariel found the back of the net after receiving a cross from senior midfielder Gabriel Arredondo. The Mustangs tacked on goals in the 77th and 80th minutes for the final margin of victory.

In the first match of the day, Oakland defeated No. 15 Tulsa 1-0 to improve its record to 5-0-0 on the season. Tulsa drops to 2-2-1 following the loss.

The 2008 Prego's Express Italian Men's Soccer Invitational continues on Saturday, when Tulsa squares off with George Mason at 6 p.m. EDT and SMU takes on Oakland at 8:30 p.m. EDT.