Box Score
- Senior captain Henning Dirks scores game-winning goal in 60th minute.
- Patriots defeat ranked team for first time since 2014 season.
- Freshman goalkeeper Corey Chambers made his collegiate debut, making four saves and notching his first career assist.
FAIRFAX, Va. - Henning Dirks scored the game-winning goal in the
60th minute on an assist from freshman goalkeeper
Corey Chambers, who notched a win in his first collegiate start as George Mason upset No. 19 Coastal Carolina for a 2-1 victory in the season opener on Friday night at George Mason Stadium.
The Patriots (1-0) defeated a ranked opponent for the first time since 2014 to kickstart their
50th season as a program.
"The soccer has to get a little better but that is something we can build on. The grit, determination and guts was there tonight," head coach Greg
Andrulis said. "That is something I said to the guys (after the game), 'We can't give you that. We can help you become better soccer players and play a little better but the determination is something you have to bring."
Added Dirks: "Sensational team effort today. It really means a lot to get the first W on this home field. The guys really gave it all out on the field today and I'm really proud of the team."
Tied 1-1 at the half, Mason pulled ahead when Chambers, a freshman from Wexford, Ireland, booted a long pass more than halfway down the field. Dirks, a senior captain from Munster, Germany, gathered the ball at his feet, took a couple strides and then launched a rocket from 15 yards out into the middle of the net.Â
Mason took an early lead in the seventh minute. Junior
Graydon Hester delivered a crossed to the right side of the box. SophomoreÂ
Tunde Akinlosotu, an Atlantic 10 All-Rookie selection from Bowie, Md., caught up to the pass and buried a goal into the bottom left corner.
"We had to come out early and getting that early goal was really huge,"
Akinlosotu said. "We broke them down on the left end. It was kind of a counter attack and then they switched it to me. I took a touch and knew I had to take a shot right then."
Coastal Carolina (0-1), which made the NCAA Tournament for the seventh consecutive time last year and won both the Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament championships, responded late in the first half.
Yazeed Matthews knocked in a goal off a deflection to tie the game in the
37th minute.
Chambers made four saves in his collegiate debut as the Chanticleers fired off 20 shots, including 13 in the first half. The defense and Chambers also thwarted 10 corner-kick attempts by Coastal Carolina, coming up with several clutch clearances. The Patriots had just six shots but scored twice on four shots on goal.Â
"(The defense) was very solid,"
Andrulis said. "I think Corey had to make two saves other than a lot of just random shots. And he did very well. His distribution was good. I think he read the game very well. He intercepted a lot of through passes. He gets the guys organized. We bend a little bit. Â We gave them a lot of territory and two many corners. But those things we can fix."
Mason returns to action at 7 p.m. on Sunday when it welcomes crosstown foe and defending Patriot League champ American to George Mason Stadium.
"American, it is always tough, the last couple years it has gone their way a little bit," Andrulis said. "But it is at home and we take a lot of pride in protecting this place and we want to make it our fortress. Get the confidence that when we come out here we can get results. If we play the way we did tonight, with a little better soccer, than I think we'll be successful."
