Mitchell Richtmyre/Fourth Estate
The Patriots have won three straight and sit atop the A-10 standings
BY GABRIEL KING, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Mason men’s soccer earned a national ranking for the first time since September 2014, the United Soccer Coaches announced Tuesday. The Patriots rose to 20th in this week’s United Soccer Coaches poll after receiving votes in last week’s poll.
The Patriots are 8-1-0 to start the season, their best start since 1985. Mason is 2-0 in Atlantic 10 play, with wins over Massachusetts and rival George Washington to begin their conference slate. VCU joined Mason as the only A-10 teams in the poll, sliding in at 23rd. The Patriots will travel to Richmond to face the Rams in the season finale on Nov. 2 in a game that will have national and conference ramifications.
Sophomore midfielder Quentin Clain has guided the Patriots to their historic start with his team-leading five goals and 12 points this season. Clain ranks fourth in A-10 in both categories of goals and points and Mason leads the conference with 68 points as a team. In Saturday’s win over George Washington, Clain and graduate student forward Marek Gonda scored two goals each to help the Patriots pull away from the Revolutionaries.
As a team, the Patriots are averaging 2.2 goals per game, which ranks third in the A-10. In both of its conference wins, Mason struck multiple second-half goals to secure the victories.
Along with their explosive offense, the Patriots’ stellar goalkeeping has led them to their national ranking. Graduate student goalkeeper Jaume Salvado has played every minute this season, allowing one goal per game in nine starts. Mason is third in the A-10 in goals allowed per game and Salvado has held opponents to less than three goals in eight of his nine starts.
Mason will play as a nationally-ranked team for the first time in a decade on Saturday in Philadelphia against La Salle. The Explores are 3-4-3 and 1-0-1 in conference play. The Patriots return to George Mason Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 9 against Loyola Chicago,