GEORGE MASON DEFEATS NORTHEASTERN 1-0 TO WIN CAA MEN'S SOCCER TITLE
WILMINGTON, N.C. (November 16, 2008) ? Senior forward Kwame Adjeman-Pamboe’s goal in the 38th minute gave third-seeded George Mason a 1-0 victory over #5 Northeastern in the CAA Men’s Soccer Championship game on Sunday afternoon at UNCW Soccer Stadium.
The win was the seventh straight for Mason (13-6-2), which earns the CAA’s automatic berth to next week’s NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship. Northeastern saw its season come to an end with a 7-5-9 record.
The CAA championship was the fifth overall for Mason, but first since 1989 prior to the league conducting a post-season tournament. It was the Patriots’ first tournament crown in five appearances in the finals.
On Mason’s game-winning goal, senior Lucas Pardew made a run up the right side and sent a beautiful cross into the box to a charging Adjeman-Pamboe, who beat NU goalkeeper Scott Partridge from five yards out. It was the ninth goal of the season for Adjeman-Pamboe and his eighth in the past seven matches.
Adjeman-Pamboe had two more good scoring chances in the opening 90 seconds of the second half, but a shot from six yards out was stopped by Partridge and an attempt from eight yards away sailed over the crossbar.
Mason continued its dominance until the Patriots went a man down with 26:29 remaining following a second yellow card to freshman Ryan Gracia. Two minutes later, Northeastern got its best chance of the match when a shot by Alexander Volk deflected on to the foot of junior Lars Okland, but his 12-yard shot from the right side was denied on a diving stop by Mason junior goalkeeper Sean Kelley.
Mason had a 19-8 edge in shots for the match, but the Huskies out-shot the Patriots 5-2 over the final 26 minutes with the one-man advantage. Kelley made three saves and recorded his ninth shutout of the season. Partridge finished with six saves for NU.
Mason controlled the action in the opening half, out-shooting the Huskies 11-2. The Patriots nearly broke the scoreless tie in the 18th minute when Adjeman-Pamboe juked past his defender at the top of the penalty box and ripped a 15-yard shot that was saved by Partridge.
Adjeman-Pamboe was selected as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. He was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Richard Edgar, Jonathan Borrajo and Eber Martinez. Making the squad from Northeastern were Okland, Volk and Brendan Ennis. Also earning all-tournament honors were Brian Harrison and Indy Smith of UNC Wilmington and Andrew Hoxie and Doug McBride from William and Mary.