Men's Soccer | 9/29/2017 1:34:00 PM

WHAT: George Mason men's soccer vs. Fordham
WHEN: 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 30
WHERE: George Mason Stadium, Fairfax, Va.
SERIES RECORD: Mason leads 3-0
LAST MEETING: Mason defeated Fordham 5-1 on Oct. 25, 2015 in Bronx, New York
RECORDS: George Mason (5-2-1, 0-0 Atlantic 10); Fordham (6-2-1, 0-0 Atlantic 10)
LIVE VIDEO ($): Click Here
LIVE STATS: Click Here

FAIRFAX, Va. – Atlantic 10 Conference season begins with a test for the George Mason men's soccer team.

Defending A-10 Tournament champ Fordham comes to town to play the Patriots at 7 p.m. on Saturday at George Mason Stadium in the league opener for both teams. The matchup is also the Game of the Week, which means free Hard Time Wings and Wingstock '17 T-shirts for Mason students with a valid Mason student ID (while supplies last).

Fordham (6-2-1, 0-0-0 A-10) captured the A-10 Tournament championship and reached the NCAA Tournament in 2016. The Rams were also picked in the preseason coaches poll this year to repeat as league champs. The Rams are off to a good start and have won five straight. They've allowed just five goals all season and have last allowed a goal on Sept. 13 – more than 344 scoreless minutes. Fordham is tied for 10th in Division I in goals against average (.542) and has posted the second-most shutouts (six) this season.

On the flip side, the Patriots (5-2-1, 0-0-0 A-10), who have won three of four, are led by their dynamic offense. The team has scored 19 goals – six more than they did all of last season – and has netted two or more goals in seven of eight games. Their 2.38 goals a game is tied for eighth most in the country.

Senior captain Henning Dirks leads the team and ranks in the top 10 in the country in goals (seven), assists (six) and points (20). He is also the nation's leader in points per game at 2.50.

Mason leads the all-time series against Fordham 3-0. The teams did not play each other last season but the Patriots won the last meeting 5-1 on Oct. 25, 2015 in New York.