Sept. 23, 2009

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason scored three goals in the span of 2:45 in the second half on its way to a 4-0 shutout of the Longwood Lancers on Wednesday evening at George Mason Stadium. It was the second consecutive shutout for the Patriots, who improved to 4-2 on the season with the win.

Both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm at the start of the match and the contest remained scoreless through 31 minutes of action. In the 32nd minute, Mason broke the deadlock following a foul by Longwood, who fell to 1-4-2 on the season. Junior forward Irvin Martinez lined up to take the free kick and crossed the ball through the box and into the left wing, where sophomore Eric Zuehsow stuck his foot out and knocked the ball past Longwood goalkeeper Ben Eanes from about 10 yards out. Eanes replaced starter Joel Helmick in goal after Helmick left due to an injury in the sixth minute of play.

The 1-0 advantage lasted until nearly 12 minutes ticked off the clock in the second half. Sophomore forward Draymond Washington scored his second goal of the season in the 57th minute to put the Patriots up 2-0. Juniors Anthony Han and Victor Freeman were credited with assists on the goal.

Less than a minute later, Freeman scored a goal of his own after using his speed to break free of the Longwood defense in the open field. Sophomore Mike Foss found an open Freeman, who knocked the ball into the net for his first career goal at George Mason. Freeman, a transfer from Louisburg College, sat out the first five matches of the season while recovering from a leg injury. The Bowie, Md. native had a stellar debut for the Patriots, finishing with a total of three points.

Freshman Alhagi Toure also scored his first career goal in the contest, finding the back of the net in the 60th minute to give Mason its fourth and final goal of the match. Washington earned an assist on the goal to finish with a total of three points.

A strong defensive effort kept the Lancers off the scoreboard. Senior Sean Kelley played 75:39 and made six saves before being relieved by sophomore Dustin Butcher, who held Longwood scoreless for the final 14:21 of the match. Tonight's match was the first appearance of Butcher's career in goal.

The Patriots open their Colonial Athletic Association schedule on Saturday, Sept. 26 at VCU with a 7 p.m. match in Richmond, Va. Mason was picked to win the CAA title for the second consecutive season in a preseason poll of conference coaches. Following Saturday's match, the Patriots return home to take on Maryland, the defending national champions, in a rematch of last year's NCAA Second Round contest in an 8 p.m. match on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at George Mason Stadium.