Box score (PDF)

Huntington, W.Va. – The George Mason men's soccer team scored early in the second half but fell to No. 2 Marshall, 2-1, on Friday night at Hoops Family Field in Huntington, W.Va.

No. 2 Marshall (1-0-0) took the lead over George Mason (0-0-1) in the 29th minute off a set piece with the first shot on goal of the match.  After the ball was played into the box off a corner kick, junior forward Larry Noel scored into to the low right corner of the net with a header from inside the six yard box to put the Thundering Herd in front, 1-0.

Marshall increased the lead off a turnover in the 42nd minute.  Sophomore forward David de la Vibora took the pass and scored under the goalkeeper from eight yards out for the eventual game winner to make the score 2-0.

The Patriots threatened in the 43rd minute off a set piece.  Graduate student midfielder Sergio Gonzalez Fernandez played a corner kick into the box, where senior defender Will Carson sent a header on goal that was stopped by Marshall sophomore goalkeeper Dan Rose on the goal line.

The Patriots dented the scoreboard early in the second half.  In the 47th minute, junior midfielder James Eliuda raced down the right side, cut into the 18 and played a cross into the six yard box that hit a Marshall defender and deflected into the back of the net to cut the lead to 2-1.

With just over five minutes remaining in the match, Patriots graduate student goalkeeper Jaume Salvado made a spectacular save on a one-on-one chance by Marshall.  He charged outside the six to cut down the angle and moved to his right to make the stop to keep it a one-goal match.

HOW THEY SCORED

29' | Noel scored with a header into the low right corner from inside the six off a corner kick.
42' | de la Vibora scored with the left foot into the lower left from eight yards.
47' | The Patriots scored on an own goal off a defender into the lower left from five yards.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Marshall outshot George Mason, 14-5, including a 6-1 advantage in shots on goal.  The Thundering Herd had seven corner kicks while the Patriots had three corner kicks in the match.

Carson (70 minutes) recorded the lone shot on goal for the Patriots.

Freshman forward Jaime Godinho (71 minutes) made his collegiate debut in the starting lineup.  Senior midfielder Mouhamed Tucker (90 minutes/start), graduate student forwards Jacobo Sanfeliu (36 minutes) and Nacho Diaz Barragan (2 minutes), along with graduate student midfielders Sergio Gonzalez Fernandez (77 minutes/start) and Kenzo Brito (13 minutes) each made their Patriots debut.

NEXT

The Patriots begin a four match homestand when they host No. 17 Virginia on Thursday, Aug. 28 with the opening kick scheduled for 7:15 p.m. at George Mason Stadium.