(May 30, 2003)

Mason's 3-1 victory over Wilson Memorial yesterday on the Green Hornets' home field secured a berth in the state semifinals which will be held June 6 at Radford.
 

Today at 5 the Mustangs will be taking on Bull Run District champion and arch-rival Brentsville for the regional championship. The game will be played at Mason. The Tigers have beaten the Mustangs three straight times this year as they clinched the district title and Mason, defending state champion in the "A" division, came in second in districts this year. Wilson Memorial was the first seed in the Shenandoah District. Against the Hornets, junior forward Becky Roa scored first, by pulling a "360" on her defender and then stroked it in from inside the penalty box. The score remained at 1-0 through the half, and then the Hornets tied it up.

First and second team all-district soccer players get ready for  tonight's big game against the arch-rival Brentsville Tigers.  The Mustangs have already clinched a spot in the state semi- finals. From left to right are Loreto Martinez (2nd), Becky  Roa (first), Alison Penland (first), Rachel Sweeney,  Christina Kirkbride (2nd).

Mason junior midfielder Alison Penland scored from 18 yards out, right in front of the goal and high and into the right hand corner of the net, making it 2-1. Roa was tackled in the penalty box and freshman midfielder Jessica Oxley scored on the penalty shot.

"It looked tense when the Hornets had a penalty shot and had a chance to come back to 3-2, but our goalie, Megan Wilhelm, saved the goal and that was the turning point, said senior midfielder Christina Sedney, who will have to miss tonight's game against the Tigers as she is at Longwood University competing in the regional semifinals in tennis.

Even if the Mustangs were to lose tonight, they are still guaranteed a spot in the state semis. But the motivation is still high as the Mustangs badly want to beat the Tigers. "This will be the perfect opportunity at home to show Brentsville who's still the best team in the state," said junior sweeper Loreto Martinez.