FAIRFAX, Va. - Three different players scored for the George Mason men's soccer team as the Patriots defended their 2010 D.C. College Cup title with a 3-0 victory over American Saturday night at George Mason Stadium. Taylor Morgan was named Tournament MVP after leading Mason to a 2-0 weekend with three goals and three assists.
The Patriots received goals from Morgan, Verneri Valimaa and Wesley Sever to post their second consecutive shutout after defeating Howard 9-0 to open the tournament. In addition, Morgan and Valimaa were credited with an assist as was Sean O'Reilly.
Mason (2-1) rattled off 17 shots on the night, putting 11 on frame, while earning seven corner kicks. American (1-2-1) was limited to just two shots in the contest and four corner kicks. Eagle goalkeeper Matt Makowski recorded eight saves playing the full game in net.
A pressure-filled first half resulted in a scoreless tie at intermission as both teams played a solid defensive game. Mason produced three shots on goal, but was unable to find the back of the net during the first 45 minutes. Morgan had two of Mason's three shots on goal with the first in the 15th minute as Makowski made a diving save at the corner to keep the Patriots off the scoreboard. Mason's next two shots on goal came five minutes apart as Morgan and Valimaa forced Makowski into two more saves.
With just a few seconds to play in the half, the Patriots threatened again as Sever carried the ball from midfield, served it off to Morgan on the right side who then sent a pass to the center of the box setting up Valimaa in front of the net. Valimaa's shot went just high as the teams entered intermission scoreless.
The Patriots immediately threatened in the second half as Morgan picked up his fourth shot on goal in the 52nd minute. The junior carried the ball down the left side of the field, cut to the right and set up in front of the keeper sending a blast from 20 yards out, but Makowski was there to pick up the save.
Mason got on board in the 59th minute when Morgan slipped a pass out to O'Reilly on the left who chipped it back to Morgan in the center of the net. Morgan punched it into the left corner to give Mason a 1-0 lead.
The Patriots produced another threat four minutes later when Leo Stolz sent a cross pass to Valimaa who kicked it just to the reach of Makowski as the keeper was able to keep it out of the net. It was in the 72nd minute, however, when Valimaa scored his first career goal to give the Patriots a 2-0 cushion. Morgan carried the ball down the left side of the field, passed it to Valimaa in the center of the box who took two steps and fired a shot into the top left corner to give Mason a two goal advantage.
Sever extended Mason's lead when the sophomore received a pass from Valimaa at the right corner of the net. Makowski came out to challenge the Patriot, but Sever slipped it past the keeper for a 3-0 Mason lead. Julio Arjona was credited as part of a double assist on the play.
Morgan was joined on the All-Tournament team by Valimaa, Hugh Roberts and Draymond Washington. American placed three players on the team in Adem Gokturk, Ryan Morales and Marco Dej. Both George Washington and Howard honored two players on the team. Seth Rudolph and Yoni Berhanu represented GW, while Gary Clark and Eric Hamilton represented Howard.
The win marks the first time George Mason defeated American at home since a 3-2 victory on November 17, 1998.
Mason travels to face Brown on September 9 at 7 p.m. to kick off the Brown Tournament. The Patriots will close out the two-day tournament against Holy Cross on Sunday at noon.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
George Mason
Taylor Morgan (MVP)
Verneri Valimaa
Hugh Roberts
Draymond Washington
American
Adem Gokturk
Ryan Morales
Marco Dej
George Washington
Seth Rudolph
Yoni Berhanu
Howard
Gary Clark
Eric Hamilton
