WILMINGTON, N.C. - Allen Lomax's goal
with 8:34 remaining in the second half pushed No. 23 UNC Wilmington past George
mason, 2-1, in Colonial Athletic Association men's soccer action on Saturday at
the UNCW Soccer Stadium.
The Seahawks, who clinched a spot in the conference championship
tournament, stayed perfect in the league at 7-0-2 and improved to 11-2-3
overall with the home victory. The Patriots, meanwhile, saw their overall mark
fall to 10-6-1 and to 5-4-1 in the conference. Coupled with Northeastern's 2-1
overtime loss at William & Mary, the Seahawks take over first-place in the
CAA and lead the Tribe by one point.
UNCW also extended its unbeaten streak to nine, tying the program record
for longest unbeaten streak as a NCAA member set in 1980.
With the score tied
at 1-all, UNCW's Daniel Roberts, a junior, gained possession of the ball 30
yards from the GMU goal on the right flank. Roberts cut the ball back inside
and created a 3-on-2 situation with Lomax wide on the left side. Roberts drew a
defender before slipping a pass to Lomax, who fired his shot under the diving
GMU goalkeeper for the winning marker.
Lomax's goal
completed a rally from the 1-0 halftime deficit. It was UNCW's third straight
win when it has been trailing or tied at the half. The victory also kept the
Seahawks perfect at the UNCW Soccer Stadium at 7-0-2.
The Patriots opened
the scoring early in the fourth minute of the game when Ernesto Marquez beat
his defender down the leftside and sent a low cross into the goalie box where Alhagi
Toure notched the goal with a diving header inside the right post.
UNCW drew even in the
58th minute on a goal by junior Nassim Berhouni. Sophomore striker Shawn Guderian penetrated through the GMU defense and found Berhouni open in the box.
Berhouni took one touch to his left and fired a shot off GMU goalkeeper Sean
Kelley and into the goal to draw even.
Both teams combined
for just five total shots in the first half, but play opened up in the second
half as UNCW outshot the Patriots, 10-5, and finished with a 13-7 edge in the
shot column.
Kelley finished with
six saves, including three in the final minutes of the game to keep it a
one-goal contest.
Junior Brock Duckworth nailed down the win for UNCW, making one save and breaking up several
dangerous crosses by the Patriots in the second half.
The Seahawks close out
their regular season home slate on Nov. 2, when they host Drexel at noon. The
game is a makeup of the Sept. 26 match that was postponed due to rain.