Sept. 24, 2008

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason men's soccer team posted its third consecutive shutout, defeating Saint Joseph's by a final score of 2-0 on Wednesday evening at George Mason Stadium to improve its record to 4-2-1 on the season. The Hawks fall to 1-2-1 following the loss.

The Patriots have held opponents without a goal during the past three matches, a total of 270 consecutive minutes. Junior goalkeeper Sean Kelley has put together an impressive streak, playing every single minute of those three matches in goal. Against Saint Joseph's, Kelley recorded four saves.

Kelley had help from a stout defense all evening. The defensive unit limited the Hawks to a mere nine shots in the match - four in the first half and five in the second half. Mason held a decided advantage in shots, taking 26, with 15 in the first half and 11 in the second.

The first of those shots to find the back of the goal came in the 25th minute of action, when senior Jonathan Borrajo threw the ball into play from the right sideline. Junior Richard Edgar tapped the ball to an open Irvin Martinez, who knocked the ball past a diving Bryan Benedict to put the Patriots on top 1-0.

Following the intermission, the two sides got a little chippy on the pitch, forcing the officials to serve three cautions within a span of four minutes. After Mason received a pair of yellow cards, Saint Joseph's sophomore Giacomo DiLisi was carded at the 58:14 mark of the match. Following DiLisi's yellow card, the two sides played clean, yet physical, soccer for the remainder of the match.

After nearly 50 minutes of scoreless play, George Mason added to its lead in the 74th minute, when senior Lucas Pardew took a Hawks' defender one-one-one before knocking the ball into the back of the goal from the right side. Pardew's second goal of the season put an end to Saint Joseph's hopes for a comeback as the Patriot defense stymied the Hawks' attack for the final 15 minutes of play.

George Mason returns to action on Saturday to host its third consecutive match at George Mason Stadium. The Patriots will take on Virginia Commonwealth at 7 p.m. in the Colonial Athletic Association opener for both teams.