Sports

• Slip ‘n’ Slide, but No Sweat: Libero Records First Collegiate Kill as Mason Cruises to a Victory over the Tigers

  Sports October 27, 2009 at 3:23 pm Comments are Disabled

  Brian T. Chan, Sports Editor Caution: The gym floor may be slippery. The women’s volleyball team committed a few errors early in the match and had trouble staying on their feet, but the team (17-6, 6-2) swept past the Towson Tigers (25-23, 25-22, 25-17) on Friday night, winning their fourth consecutive match. With the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens falling to the last-place James Madison Dukes in a huge upset on Friday night, Mason remained third in the Colonial Athletic Association, but crept closer to the conference leader. The two powerhouses clashed at the RAC on Saturday. For Mason, they are competing on all cylinders in what turns out to be an enjoyable season. “It’s always more fun to win, and we’ve been working really hard,” said sophomore outside hitter Noelle Fanella. “It’s really showing, and I think a lot of people are really excited about how well we’re doing. Compared to last year, it is a lot more fun.” After Mason took a 5-3 lead in the first set, the Tigers responded with the next six points and eventually built a 16-12 lead. Mason committed five attack errors in the Tigers’ first 10 points. While staying positive, Mason came together […]

   

• Sports at a Glance

  Sports October 27, 2009 at 3:22 pm Comments are Disabled

  Ryan Dempsey, Staff Writer NFL Former Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson believes the Bears did everything in their power to keep him from signing with another team. Benson was released in June 2008 after being arrested two different times for alcohol-related issues. Benson will finally come face-to-face with his former team, as his new team the Cincinnati Bengals, host the Bears. Benson has insisted that he is not out for revenge, despite having bad feelings. “I heard all the rumors that were said coming out of Chicago,” Benson said. “Even the Bengals told me all the things, that they would call and inquire about me and get nothing but negative things. Just that I didn’t work hard, that I was, I guess, a prima donna or I didn’t work hard on the field, just wasn’t focused, just anything negative that they could say, it was said. I’m sure that contributed largely to me not getting picked up right away.” NBA There are a lot of things a team can do in attempts to improve their team, but what about relocating? The New Jersey Nets, who have not had a winning season since the 2005-06 season and who have started […]

   

• Mason Defeated by Pride in Conference Battle

  Sports October 27, 2009 at 3:21 pm Comments are Disabled

  Cody Norman, Broadside Correspondent The George Mason University men’s soccer team lost its second-straight Colonial Athletic Association game, losing to the Hofstra Pride by a final score of 2-0 on Wednesday night. After the loss, the Patriots’ record fell to 8-5-1 overall and 3-3-1 in CAA conference matches. With 10 points, the Patriots are in sixth place in the conference with only four contests remaining in the 2009 season. On the other hand, the Pride continue to hold the lead in the CAA standings. Despite having a 7-5-1 overall record, five of their wins have come against conference opponents. The Pride took a 1-0 lead midway through the first half after a 25-yard shot by midfielder Rob Youhill found the upper-right corner of the net. Youhill notched his fifth goal of the season. They added to their lead in the final minutes when Hofstra forward Johannes Grahn beat senior goalkeeper Sean Kelley on a penalty kick for the final goal of the contest. Grahn added his team-leading sixth goal of the season. The Patriots missed on their best scoring opportunity just moments prior to the Pride’s first goal. After a cross from the right sideline found sophomore forward Draymond Washington […]

   

• In My Own Words: Volleyball Moments in the Globalized World

  Sports October 27, 2009 at 3:20 pm Comments are Disabled

  Fernanda Bartels, Staff Writer There are two things in particular that make volleyball more enjoyable for me. The first one is the people involved in the sport: Teammates, coaches, fans, supporters, alumni, parents, friends, trainers and even the opponents. These people make the experience of volleyball memorable. Because I am a “people person,” I really value these interactions and try to take the most of them. For me, the interaction with people transforms simple moments into something extraordinary. Twenty years from now, when I look back over my collegiate volleyball years, I am positive that I will still remember every person that made a difference for me during those years. Maybe I will remember a joke someone made during a trip or a habit one of my teammates had. I hope I can also remember matches that stood out or the unbelievable plays that are worth telling my kids. For me, the opportunity to visit different places is the second thing that adds the most to the experience of playing volleyball. This season, we had the opportunity to walk around Boston. We went downtown to walk around the markets, try some local food and do some shopping. Other than Boston, […]

   

• Mason Looks to Contain the Panthers in CAA Matchup

  Sports October 23, 2009 at 5:09 pm Comments are Disabled

  Yasin Jama, Broadside Correspondent The George Mason men’s soccer team continues CAA play as they host the Georgia State Panthers on Saturday night at 7 p.m. Mason enters the game with an 8-3-1 overall record and a 3-1-1 record in conference play. Mason has won six of the past seven games, with their only loss coming at home to the Towson Tigers. The Patriots are led by a potent offensive attack from junior forward Victor Freeman. Freeman is among two players that lead the team in goals. Freeman has four goals, three assists, and 11 points. The other leader in goals is sophomore forward Draymond Washington, who also has four goals, two assists, and 10 points. However, goalkeeping has been a major key for Mason’s early success this season. Senior goalkeeper Sean Kelley leads the CAA with 43 saves and is second in the league with five shutouts. When Kelley is playing well, the team is tough to beat. The Patriots will face a very young and struggling Panthers squad, which enters with a 3-5-1 record and a 1-4-1 record in conference play. Two of those three victories were on the road. Freshman Gimel Gordon is the team leader with […]

   

• Mason Madness: Fans Pack Patriot Center to Receive Preview of This Year’s Basketball Season

  Sports October 20, 2009 at 3:19 pm Comments are Disabled

  John Powell, Asst. Sports Editor Doc Nix led the Green Machine, President Alan Merten shot a t-shirt out of a launcher, head coaches Jim Larranaga and Jeri Porter started a chant of “George Mason,” and the fans erupted the whole night. The Patriots’ basketball is back. “I’m really pleased with the energy from the crowd, the players put on a good show. The Green Machine has been working so hard and everything came together for us,” said Doc Nix of the great crowd reaction, a direct result, he believes, of his Green Machine. Urbanknowlogy 101 had an incredible performance, combining their incredible dance style with songs like “You’re a Jerk,” “Heartless,” and “Break-up.” Porter, the women’s head coach, was introduced, giving a special call-out to the Green Machine, calling it “the best [pep band] in the country.” The Green Machine performed to get the crowd pumped up for the coaches. “As a band, I think we really get the crowd pumped,” said Green Machine member Kevin Thompson, a freshman music major. The arena dimmed, and then, coming from green smoke, Larranaga appeared, jogging to the center of the stage to the familiar chant “Larr-a-naga.” “Over the years, there has been […]

   

• Time to Thrill with the Kill: Mason Women’s Volleyball Takes on the Tigers and Blue Hens in Weekend Series

  Sports October 20, 2009 at 3:16 pm Comments are Disabled

  Brian T. Chan, Sports Editor Mason: The George Mason University women’s volleyball team is tied for fourth in the conference, but has the second-best overall record at 14-6. With every match having great significance to the conference record, this weekend’s two matches can either improve Mason’s chances in qualifying for the Colonial Athletic Association tournament or make it tougher on them towards the end of the season. After a tough fifth-set loss against the William & Mary Tribe, Mason responded with a strong offensive attack against their rival James Madison Dukes. Mason out-hit their opponents .314-.128 in the match. After dropping the second set on Saturday, Mason exploded with a .684 attack percentage. Junior middle blocker and outside hitter Holly Goode led Mason with 18 kills and seven blocks and posted a .455 attack percentage. Goode is seventh in the CAA with 2.98 kills per set and eighth in attack percentage at .289. Sophomore middle blocker Kelsey Bohman, who has been outstanding on the defensive side, added six blocks and recorded a tremendous .600 attack percentage, committing just one attack error from her 10 kills. Bohman is currently the CAA’s top defensive player, leading with 105 total blocks. Towson University: […]

   

• Sports at a Glance

  Sports October 20, 2009 at 3:14 pm Comments are Disabled

  Ryan Dempsey, Staff Writer Take a Walk in Jordan’s Shoes In recent months, NBA superstar Michael Jordan has been in the spotlight, most notably from his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Last week, Jordan was in a new spotlight as his son, Marcus Jordan, refused to wear any shoes other than Nike. Marcus Jordan, a freshman guard for the University of Central Florida men’s basketball team, started practice with his teammates. According to Fanhouse.com, Marcus Jordan let team officials know he would stick with Nike, despite the school having a contract with Adidas that “requires all intercollegiate athletes and coaches to wear its brand.” Despite the difference in shoes, Jordan will wear Adidas’ team jersey like everyone else. However, this has not been the first time an athlete at UCF has not worn Adidas. According to athletic director Keith Tribble, there has been at least one kicker on the football team who wore different shoes because of the way the Adidas brand fit. Fergie to be Part-Owner of Dophins? At the NFL owners meeting in Boston early last week, Stacy Ann Ferguson who is also known as Black Eyed Peas singer and solo artist  Fergie, was approved to […]

   

• Patriots Pluck Blue Hens: Mason Garners First Win in Three Games against Delaware

  Sports October 20, 2009 at 2:20 pm Comments are Disabled

  John Powell, Asst. Sports Editor It was a cold and rainy night, but a night for two teams that needed a win. The Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens came in at 5-7-0 overall, needing to turn around their losing season. The Fightin’ Blue Hens were 2-2-0 in the CAA, setting up for an important conference matchup. The George Mason Patriots came into the game 7-3-1 overall, continuing their success from last year. Unfortunately, they have not lived up to their own conference expectations, beating the formidable foe William & Mary, yet subsequently losing to the dismal Towson Tigers. To continue boasting a winning conference record, the Patriots would need to play against not only Delaware, but also the terrible weather conditions. At kickoff, the temperature was in the 40s, paired with a drizzle that never seemed to stop. “We lost to Towson last week; we should have won against James Madison. Now . . . we want to win everything,” said sophomore midfielder Ryan Gracia on the two non-wins last week. The night seemed to be characterized by awful plays from both sides, completely missing passes directly to them, missing foul shots over the box from just a few yards away […]

   

• Rugby: Here to Stay

  Sports October 20, 2009 at 2:18 pm Comments are Disabled

  Ryan Dempsey, Staff Writer There are so many club teams at George Mason University that so few actually know about. One of those is the Mason rugby club teams. Rugby at Mason has a team for men and another for women. The men’s rugby team was founded in 1963 and is the oldest club team on the Fairfax campus. The men’s rugby team has held a winning record in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The National Guard has sponsored the team since 2007. The women’s team is new to Mason, founded spring 2009. Both teams compete against other NCAA Division II schools that bring about a lot of competition. The men’s rugby team currently has 45 players on the roster and three coaches that bring vast international playing experience from England, France and South Africa. The women’s team has 25 players and one head coach. Practices are held for both teams Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Intramural Field 4. “We are very proud of our players,” said men’s Head Coach Frederic Bardot. “We were the clearly superior team, but we never lost our focus. Now we are still undefeated, but the real test comes next week […]