Oct. 16, 2010

Box Score

Fairfax, Va. - The George Mason men's soccer team continued to ride the hot foot of Ernesto Marquez on Saturday as the redshirt senior who had a goal and two assists on Wednesday had a goal and two assists on Saturday as the Patriots beat James Madison, 3-0. It's the second straight match in which the Patriots beat a team ranked in the top 40 in the RPI.

In the 19th minute, Mason (6-5-1, 2-3-1) broke through taking advantage of a James Madison (7-3-2, 2-2-1) foul. Derek Markheim was pushed to the ground about 35 yards out setting up a direct kick for Marquez. He sent the ball into the box and it was deflected to Ryan Gracia on the right side about 10 yards out. He one-timed the ball far post keeping it on the ground and putting Mason ahead, 1-0.

In the 42nd minute, the Patriots played some fabulous possession soccer and it led to a two-goal lead. First Marquez took on three defenders and beat them all. Then he found Ryan Gracia at midfield and he turned and played the ball deep on the right wing to Parker Walton. Walton sent the ball into the box at the near post and Marquez, who stayed with the play the entire way, leapt into the air and deflected the ball into the net to make it 2-0. The Dukes nearly cut into the lead less than a minute later but an apparent goal was called off when an offsides call was made.

The final goal came in the 80th minute when the Dukes, a man down at this point, lost possession of the ball 40 yards out and Marquez took it on the right wing, centered it, then played it back to Victor Freeman on the right side. Freeman beat one defender then put the ball in the back left corner of the net.

Entering the week, James Madison was 37th in the RPI, and that was before the Dukes tied third-ranked Virginia 0-0. Earlier this week Mason topped Towson, which was 31st in the RPI when the week began. The Patriots will host Delaware (3-7-2, 2-3-1) on Wednesday at 7 p.m.