Aug. 31, 2007

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason men's soccer team began its season on a high note as the Patriots shut out the Howard Bison to win their season opener by a final score of 3-0 on Friday evening on the first day of action at the 2007 Adidas D.C. College Cup, held at George Mason Stadium.

Playing in his first collegiate match, freshman Fro Adu, a native of nearby Rockville, Md., wowed the crowd of 1,368 in attendance with two goals in a span of 8:33 in the second period to give the Patriots a lead they would never relinquish.

The first period ended without a goal on either side. Adu changed that at the 52:08 mark, knocking a shot past Howard goalkeeper Chris Taylor to give Mason a 1-0 lead. Both Irvin Martinez and Richard Edgar assisted on Adu's first collegiate goal. After a little more than eight minutes passed, Adu struck again when junior Chris Carroll passed the ball to Martinez, who fired a shot that struck the goalpost and ricocheted right to Adu, who knocked it into the net for the second goal of his career.

Edgar, a member of the 2006 CAA All-Rookie Team, wrapped up the scoring for the Patriots, finding the back of the net after senior Chris Chaves sent it his way off a free kick at the 68:32 mark. George Mason's offense kept the pressure on Taylor all night, taking 15 shots, while the Patriots defensive pressure was the main reason the Bison managed only six shots in the match.

The first match of the tournament was also a shutout, as the George Washington Colonials opened up the 2007 Adidas D.C. College Cup with a 2-0 victory against the American Eagles. Erick Perez-Segnini and Andy Stadler both scored one goal for GW.

The 2007 Adidas D.C. College Cup wraps up on Sunday with two more matches. On the second and final day of the tournament, Howard faces George Washington at 1 p.m. and the Patriots play American at 3 p.m.

Tickets to Sunday's matches will cost $5 for adults and $2 for youth and senior citizens. All full-time enrolled students at George Mason University will be admitted free with a valid Mason student ID. Tickets will be valid for both matches.