Jan. 24, 2005

FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason University senior goalkeeper Sarah Coughlin (Hawthorne, N.Y./Westlake) was recently named to the 2004 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Women's College Scholar All-America Third Team, as voted on by members of the association. Coughlin was presented her award on Jan. 14, as part of the 2004 NSCAA Convention in Baltimore, Md.

2004 NSCAA/adidas Women's College Scholar All-America Teams

Coughlin was eligible for the national ballot after landing on the NSCAA/adidas Women's College Scholar East all-Region squad as the first team goalkeeper.

To be eligible for the NSCAA/adidas Women's College Scholar All-America teams, the player must be a junior in academic standing or above at the institution, must have at least a 3.30 grade-point-average (on a 4.0 scale) throughout her career and have started more than 50 percent of the time. The award encompasses all Divisions of NCAA women's college soccer.

Coughlin graduated in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a 3.31 undergraduate GPA. She currently has a 3.80 GPA while pursuing a master's degree in secondary education at Mason.

Coughlin had a solid 2004 season for the Patriots. She was named CAA Defender of the Year and earned all-CAA first team accolades for the third time in her career. Coughlin was also selected to the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID) 2004 University Division all-State second team.

A two-year captain and 2004 NSCAA Mid-Atlantic all-Region third team honoree, Coughlin concluded the year with 64 saves and a 1.48 goals-against average. She started 18 games, logging 1,520:36 minutes (she missed two contests due to injury) and posted an 8-6-3 overall record with three solo shutouts.

Coughlin allowed 25 goals and recorded a 71.9 save percentage. She totaled a season-high 11 saves in the come-from-behind win over VCU, and she played the majority of the season behind a backline that included two or three freshmen in every game.

Coughlin stands second all-time at George Mason with 353 saves and 6,283:36 minutes between the pipes. She is fourth all-time with 18.25 shutouts. In 79 career games, Coughlin owns a 1.29 GAA (90 goals allowed).

George Mason finished the 2004 season with a 10-7-3 overall record and a 5-2-2 mark in the CAA under first-year head coach Diane Drake. The Patriots tied for third in the league standings at the end of the regular season and were the No. 5 seed in the CAA Women's Soccer Championship, marking Mason's 10th straight CAA Tournament appearance. The Patriots went unbeaten in seven of their final eight matches, falling at No. 4 seed James Madison in the CAA tournament quarterfinals.