WOMEN'S NEWS ... George Mason, one of the great names in women's soccer is on the comeback trail. The Patriots defeated UMBC, 4-0, on Tuesday night and improved to 8-1-0, their best start since 1993. They need only two more wins for their first 10-win season since 1994. George Mason was the first team other than North Carolina to win an NCAA women's national championship. It followed up on its 1985 title with a second-place finish in 1993.

First-year players have been key to the turnaround for the Patriots, who won only five games in 2008. Freshman Diana Kallenberger had two goals and an assist against UMBC to give her a team-high seven goals and four assists. Jamaican international Omolyn Davis, a transfer from NAIA power Lindsey Wilson, has six goals and three assists. Freshman Katie Frey picked up her fourth shutout of the season against UMBC.

"The girls did a great job of being professional," said Patriots coach Diane Drake. "We told them we needed to find a way to win while still preserving players for Thursday." That's when GMU hosts preseason favorite James Madison in the CAA opener.

Tuesday's Results