FAIRFAX, Va. – Senior Wes Sever scored twice in the second half to lead the George Mason men's soccer team to a 3-1 exhibition victory over visiting Campbell University on a sun-splashed Saturday afternoon at George Mason Stadium. The Patriots improved to 2-0-1 in preseason action in their final exhibition, while Campbell finished the preseason 0-2.
Sever connected on the game-winner in the 69th minute, taking a cross from Julio Arjona on the right side, and delivering the ball to the back of the net to make the score 2-1. He added the insurance goal in with just over five minutes remaining in the contest, intercepting a Campbell defender's pass and scoring from midway inside the box with a straightaway attempt.
In the 11th minute of action, Jannik Eckenrode served the ball upfield to a streaking Matt Tucker, who beat his defender one-on-one to the ball. Driving towards the net, Tucker placed the ball to the lower-right corner, where the outstretched Ethan Hall could not make the save and Mason took the 1-0 lead.
The Patriots' only other scoring chance came in the opening minutes of the half, as Timi Mulgrew fired on goalkeeper Ethan Hall, but Hall collected the ball for the save. Meanwhile, the Patriot defense held in the opening half, not allowing a shot on goal by the Camels. Mason also won the battle of corner kicks, 2-1, in the period.
The Camels equalized the match just under three minutes into the second half, when Mason's Hugh Roberts was whistled for a yellow card after a violation against CU's Justin Franz. After being awarded a penalty kick, Franz converted to make the score 1-1. It was the only goal allowed by Mason keeper Steffen Kraus, who did not record a save. Campbell nearly made the score 3-2 in the 90th minute, but Jhuvon Francis's shot on goal was deflected out of harm's way by the Patriot defense.
Mason opens the 2013 campaign officially on Friday evening at home, hosting the D.C. College Cup. The Patriots will face Howard at 7:30 p.m., following the conclusion of the American-George Washington match at 5 p.m. at George Mason Stadium.
