Men's Soccer | 8/27/2017 9:48:00 PM

• Sophomore Ryan Mingachos scored the first two goals of his career.
• Freshman Corey Chambers posted his first career shutout, making four saves for the second straight game.
• The Patriots improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2014.

FAIRFAX, Va. – For the second straight game, a quick goal out of the gate boosted the George Mason men's soccer team.

Sophomore Ryan Mingachos scored twice – the first coming in the seventh minute – and freshman goalkeeper Corey Chambers and the defense posted a shutout as the Patriots cruised to a 3-0 victory over crosstown foe American on Sunday night at George Mason Stadium.

Mason improves to 2-0 for the first time since 2014, capping off a weekend that started with a 2-1 upset of No. 19 Coastal Carolina on Friday. The Patriots (2-0) collected wins over two defending conference champs in Coastal Carolina (Sun Belt) and American (Patriot League). In both games, the Patriots scored first - striking both times in the seventh minute for an early lead.

"Getting as many goals as we had in the two games and getting the shutout tonight, that is really something to build on," head coach Greg Andrulis said. "I think we definitely made some improvement in our overall play from Friday night to tonight. We just got to get used to each other and build those relationships and those combinations and we'll still keep improving."

Against American (0-2), Mingachos scored the first two goals of his career – both coming off assists from senior captain Henning Dirks – before halftime. Mingachos, a midfielder from Danbury, Connecticut, scored in the seventh and 21st minutes and beat the keeper both times after through balls from Dirks. The captain from Munster, Germany has a goal and two assists through two games.

"It is something we talked about before the game - we need to come out strong," Mingachos said. "We did that against Coastal as well. The first 10, 15 minutes, we have to come out and score a goal. And we did that both games and we got two wins because of that. Last year, we didn't have that determination mentality. Already the first weekend, we're showing that in both games, which is awesome."

Sophomore Jackson Miles also tallied his first career goal, finding the back of the net in the 60th minute. The forward from Hampton, Virginia, came off the bench and deposited a shot into the left corner after settling a ball that went off the feet of the American defense.

The defense stood tall for the second straight game as the Patriots staved off an Eagles attack that fired off 14 shots, including 13 in the first half. Chambers made four saves – three coming before halftime. The Wexford, Ireland native made a couple acrobatic stops, including diving to his left to slap away a header from American's Trey Echazarretta. 

Through two games, the Patriots have allowed just one goal on 34 shots faced, with Chambers making eight saves.

"What we were aiming for - a shutout at home," Chambers said. "Today, we defended well throughout the whole game and we had the shutout at home... I have to give major credit to the boys. They put in some great blocks and clearances off the line, stuff I'm not getting to that they clear away. I can't ask anything more from my defenders. They've been absolutely outstanding for the two games."

Mason now hits the road for a two-game trip in New York. The Patriots play at Albany on Friday before wrapping up the weekend at Siena on Sunday. In 2016, Albany (0-1) won the America East Tournament, reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament and finished the season with an impressive RPI of 15. Siena (0-0-1) reached the semifinals of the MAAC Tournament. Last year, the Saints defeated the Patriots 2-1 in overtime in Fairfax, rallying late in the second half.

"The schedule was put together to be very difficult for a reason," Andrulis said. "If you want to be one of the better teams you have to play the better teams. It is a very challenging schedule. It doesn't get any easier now on the road with two teams who beat us the last time we played them. Albany was a top 20 team coming into the season. They had a fantastic year last year. It is going to be one heck of a challenge. But that is how you get better. That is how you get stronger. We're going through this process of rebuilding our confidence and rebuilding our image and playing those kind of teams, getting results like this over the weekend is certainly a step in the right direction."