WHAT: George Mason men's soccer at VCU
WHEN: 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1
WHERE: SportsBackers Stadium, Richmond, Va.
SERIES RECORD: VCU 11-10-9
LAST MEETING: Mason tied VCU 1-1 in double overtime on Oct. 3, 2015 in Fairfax, Va.
RECORDS: George Mason (2-5-1, 0-0-0); VCU (2-5-2, 0-0-0 Atlantic 10)
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FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason men's soccer team looks to begin a new chapter of its season when it opens Atlantic 10 Conference play this weekend.
After going 2-5-1 in non-conference play, the Patriots aim to turn the page and start afresh when they travel to play VCU at 7 p.m. on Saturday in Richmond, Va., in the A-10 opener for both teams.
Since Mason joined the A-10 in 2013, the Patriots have opened conference play against VCU all four years. The Rams have defeated Mason twice in those league openers, with the Patriots tying VCU last year in Fairfax. VCU holds a slight lead of 11-10-9 in the all-time series, with Mason's last win coming on Nov. 15, 2013 in the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
This season, the Rams (2-5-2) have also struggled in non-conference play. But their schedule has been riddled with ranked opponents – five to be exact. VCU is 1-3-1 in those games, with a win over No. 23 Vermont on Sept. 11. Most recently, the Rams drew No. 23 Akron to a scoreless tie on the road on Tuesday. The Zips reached the semifinals of the College Cup last year, taking eventual national champ Stanford to double overtime before the Cardinal advanced on penalty kicks.
VCU, picked to finish third in the conference in the preseason coaches poll after reaching the championship game of the A-10 Tournament in 2015, leads the league in goals with 14.
Mason is coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to Siena last Saturday in Fairfax. The Patriots led 1-0 thanks to a first-half goal by Daniel Hoffmann. But the Saints scored in the 87th minute to tie the game and then scored the game-winner just 80 seconds into overtime. Sophomore goalkeeper Tomas Lapnas made his first career start and collegiate debut, filling in for injured senior Steffen Kraus and making six saves.
On Monday, freshman forward Tunde Akinlosotu from Bowie, Md., was named the A-10 Co-Rookie of the Week after he score the game-winner in a 1-0 victory over High Point on Sept. 21. Akinlosotu shares the team lead in goals with Hoffmann at two apiece.
The Patriots will be trying to win their A-10 opener for the first time since joining the league in 2013. The last time they won a conference opener was on Sept. 22, 2012 against UNC Wilmington when they were still in the Colonial Athletic Association.
