Oct. 21, 2009

Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - George Mason dropped its second consecutive Colonial Athletic Association men's soccer contest, falling to Hofstra by a final score of 2-0 on Wednesday evening at Hofstra Soccer Stadium in Hempstead, N.Y. After taking the loss, the Patriots record stands at 8-5-1 overall and 3-3-1 in conference matches with four contests remaining on the 2009 schedule.

Mason is in sixth place in the conference standings with 10 points. The Pride sit atop the CAA standings with a 7-5-1 overall record and 5-1-1 mark in conference matches for a total of 16 points. The top four teams in the standings at the end of the regular season advance to the CAA Championship Tournament, scheduled to begin on Nov. 13 at the home of the top seed.

Hofstra took a 1-0 lead at the 14:31 mark of the first half off a goal from senior midfielder Rob Youhill. After the Patriots headed the ball out of their penalty area, Youhill tracked it down 35 yards from goal. He dribbled to his left, and then cut back to his right past a defender, before sending a 25-yard rocket into the upper-right corner of the net to give the Pride a one-goal lead.

The Patriots had one of their best scoring opportunities of the night moments earlier. A cross from the right sideline found sophomore forward Draymond Washington inside the penalty area. Washington chested the ball down and sent a low blast toward goal but Hofstra goalkeeper Greg Cumpstone went down to smother the ball and keep the game scoreless.

The Pride added to their lead in the final minute on a counter-attack, as George Mason committed a foul in the box to stop a breakaway. Junior forward Johannes Grahn took the penalty kick and beat senior goalkeeper Sean Kelley for the final goal of the evening.

George Mason returns to the pitch on Saturday, Oct. 24 against Georgia State. Opening kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at George Mason Stadium.