Sept. 5, 2004

Box Score

Baltimore, Md.--Senior Matt Mendy (Banjul, Gambia) scored in the closing minutes of regulation to tie the game against Loyola (Md.), but George Mason's men's soccer team fell short as the Greyhounds netted a goal in the opening seconds of overtime to claim a 3-2 victory in Baltimore. The Patriots fell to 1-1-0 overall, while the Greyhounds improved to 1-1-0.

Loyola's sophomore Omar Alfonso took a direct kick from about 20 yards out and from the left side of the cage, he drilled the kick into the upper right corner of the net, giving the 'Hounds a 1-0 lead at 5:46.

Mason responded with an attack in the 29th minute, and after Loyola goalkeeper Greg Peters batted a ball out of harms way, senior Damien Quinn (San Diego, Calif.) lofted a shot over Peters' head as he tried to retreat, and the score was tied at 1-1.

Alfonso, in almost the exact same spot as his first direct kick, was given another opportunity to put points on the board for Loyola after a Mason foul in the 33rd minute. This time, Alfonso curved his shot over the Patriots' wall, but a diving senior John O'Hara (Foxford, Ireland) came up with the save to keep the score tied.

Junior Vinnie Piscopo, however, would break that tie at 41:11 for the Greyhounds. Piscopo took a feed from freshman Frank Spanos and beat O'Hara with a low shot in front of the cage.

The Patriots went on the attack in the closing stages of the second half. After senior Jay Joyce ripped a shot that was saved by O'Hara in the 86th minute, and Mendy tied the game at 2-2 with his shot at 87:19 from Damien Quinn.

Loyola's overtime streak would be put the test, but a give-and-go between Alfonso and senior Kevin Nash, would quickly run the streak to 24.

The Patriots will return to action on Friday, Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. when they face Santa Clara at their own George Mason/Comfort Inn Classic. The Classic will continue play on Sept. 12 and the Patriots will compete against Robert Morris at 2:30 p.m. Loyola will also participate in the classic, but these two teams will not meet again.

Box Score
	                1	2	OT1	Final
George Mason (1-0-1)	1       1       0       -2
Loyola (1-0-1)	2	0	1	-3
Scoring Summary:
Period	Time	Team	Scoring
1	5:46	LU	Omar Alfonso
1       28:52   GM      Damien Quinn
1       41:11   LU      Vinnie Piscopo (Frank Spanos)
2       87:19   GM      Matt Mendy (Damien Quinn)
OT      90:20   LU      Omar Alfonso (Kevin Nash)
Shots: GM 8; LU 13
Saves: GM- O'Hara 5;  LU- Peters 2
Corners: GM 4;  LU 3
Attendance: 765