George Washington University Athletics
Men's Soccer Hosts Critical A-10 Matches This Weekend
11/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 5, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC - The George Washington men's soccer team hosts Rhode Island and Massachusetts this weekend in conference matches vital to the team's Atlantic 10 Championship chances. The Colonials kick off against the Rams Friday at 2:00 pm and wrap the regular season against the Minutemen Sunday at 1:00 pm.
Fans can follow live stats via GameTracker ( | ), but are encouraged to visit Mount Vernon Field (2100 Foxhall Rd., NW) to cheer on the Colonials in their critical weekend matches.
GW (9-7-0, 3-4-0 A-10) currently sits in a tie for ninth -- with Massachusetts -- in the A-10 standings with nine points, one behind seventh place Temple and Duquesne and three behind Rhode Island, which occupies the coveted sixth-place slot.
The Colonials likely need a pair of victories and beneficial results from other league contests this weekend to secure a postseason bid. The top six teams in the conference standings qualify for the A-10 Championship, to be held at Rhode Island's Soccer Complex Nov. 12-15.
The Colonials kept their playoff hopes alive with a 1-0 shutout of Richmond at Mount Vernon Field on Saturday. Redshirt senior Mike Rollings scored 17 seconds into the second half and redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Erik Haug made three saves for his fourth shutout of the season and the Colonials' sixth. The victory was 22-year head coach George Lidster's 187th career win, good for 50th on NCAA Division I's active wins list.
GW narrowly missed the A-10 playoffs last season, losing out on a one-point tiebreaker with Rhode Island after tying the Rams in the final league standings with 14 points.
Rhode Island (7-8-1, 4-3-0 A-10) has won four of its last five matches, including a 1-0 victory over Duquesne on Sunday, to move into sixth in the A-10. The Rams have qualified for the past six and 10 of the last 11 A-10 Championships, capturing five league titles in that 11-year span.
Massachusetts (6-6-3, 3-4-0 A-10) boasts the league's top defense, having allowed just 10 goals in 15 matches for a 0.67 goals-against average. The Minutemen have scored only 13 goals through 15 matches, but are 6-0-2 this year when scoring at least one goal. In each of its six losses and one tie, UMass has failed to score.
GW's 10-member senior class will be honored with a Senior Day ceremony prior to Sunday's home finale against the Minutemen.
