Oct. 24, 2009

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - Junior forward Victor Freeman's two goals led the George Mason men's soccer team past Georgia State by a final score of 3-1 on Saturday evening at George Mason Stadium. The win snapped a two-match losing streak for the Patriots, who improved to 9-5-1 overall and 4-3-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association with the win.

With tonight's win, the Patriots moved up a spot in the conference standings with three matches left in the season. Mason is in fifth place with 13 points, trailing Northeastern, UNC Wilmington, William and Mary and Hofstra. The top four teams in the standings at the end of the regular season advance to the CAA Championship Tournament, slated to begin on Nov. 13 at the home of the top seed. Georgia State sits in 10th place in the CAA standings with a 4-7-1 overall record and 2-6-0 mark in CAA contests after tonight's loss.

George Mason got on the scoreboard in the 40th minute when junior forward Victor Freeman scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season. Freshman A.J. Sheta launched a shot from the middle of the box that Georgia State goalkeeper Vincent Foermer dove to his right to stop. The ball caromed off Foermer's outstretched body to Freeman, who knocked the ball high into the middle of the net to give the Patriots a one-goal lead.

Despite being outshot 11-10 during the first 45 minutes of play, the Patriots headed into the intermission with a 1-0 lead. Senior goalkeeper Sean Kelley was stellar in the net during the half with eight saves. Kelley finished with a total of 12 in the match.

After the break, Mason added to its lead in the 55th minute. Senior midfielder Richard Edgar, a Lowe's Senior CLASS Award finalist, blasted a shot on the ground from the top of the box that Foermer dropped down to save. The ball bounced off Foermer to Freeman, who stuck his right foot out and kicked the ball into the net for his sixth goal of the season and second of the night.

The 2-0 lead held until the 79th minute of play when the Panthers' scored their lone goal of the night as a result of an own goal by the Patriot defensive unit. Freshman Gimel Gordon took a shot from the right wing that curved in front of the net and bounced off a Patriot defender and past Kelley to cut the lead to a single goal.

The Patriots regained a two-goal lead in the 81st minute. Junior Steven Wagoner was fouled in the act of shooting, leading to a free kick for Mason. Junior Fro Adu took the kick from the top of the box and curved the ball into the left corner of the net for his second goal of the season.

Mason hits the road for its next CAA match, traveling to Philadelphia, Pa. to take on Drexel on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at Vidas Field. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.