April 11, 2004

Box Score

NEWARK, Del. -- Junior midfielder Erin Edell notched her second hat-trick of the season but it wasn't enough as No. 20 ranked George Mason handed the University of Delaware women's lacrosse its third straight loss in a back-and-forth Colonial Athletic Association contest Sunday afternoon at Rullo Stadium.

The game featured four lead changes and four ties, all in the first stanza of play, and neither team lead by more than two goals in the hard fought league battle.

Edell led the Hens (3-9, 1-4 CAA) with three goals while Shannon Kron notched two scores in the loss. Kristy Manas tallied five points, off two goals and three assists for the Patriots (4-5, 2-2). Sarah Bryant and Kate Scott both notched two goals for George Mason.

George Mason took a 7-6 lead into the first half and managed to hold on despite several later Delaware surges. The Patriots' Jeannine Ohler scored at 24:22 to extend their lead 8-6, but Edell registered one of her three tallies off a pass from junior Becky Rausa to cut the margin to 8-7 with 19:43 left.

Manas scored just 36 seconds later to extend the Patriot lead back to two at 19:07, 9-7 but Delaware sophomore Megan Hager connected on a free position opportunity at 17:41 to cut into the Patriot lead once again. Kate Scott scored the Patriots' final goal of the contest with 15:54 to go in the second half for a 10-8 lead.

Both teams went scoreless for over 15 minutes of play before Edell scored at 1:47 to pull the Hens? within one for the third time in the stanza. Senior Becky Zane was fouled with two seconds left in the game but her shot attempt was batted down as time expired.

George Mason opened the scoring in the first half at 27:38 as Lisa Hagan found the back of the net but Delaware responded with goals from Kron and junior Lindsey Greer to give the Hens a 2-1 lead at 23:06. George Mason rallied off two scores to take a 3-2 lead at 18:20. However, three different Delaware players hit pay dirt as the Hens took their largest lead of the game, 5-3, at 9:57.

The Patriots made a late run with a three-goal spurt of their own to take a 6-5 lead at 4:11. The teams traded goals in the final three minutes of the first half as the Patriots took a 7-6 advantage into the break.

Delaware had a chance to tie the game with one second remaining in the half, but Patriot goalkeeper Meg Dentler stopped junior Diana Hall's free position shot to preserve the win. Dentler finished the game with 12 saves.

George Mason broke a two-game losing streak with its win over the Blue Hens. The Hens have now lost six of their past seven games.

The Patriots conclude a four-game road swing this Tuesday when they visit nationally-ranked Virginia for a 7 p.m. tilt.

No. 20 GEORGE MASON....7....3........-10
DELAWARE..............6....3.......- 9

GOALS: George Mason - Kristy Manas 2, Sarah Bryant 2, Kate Scott 2, Lisa Hagan, Jeannine Ohler, Stacy Berger, Brandi Evans; Delaware - Erin Edell 3, Shannon Kron 2, Diana Hall, Becky Zane, Megan Hager, Lindsey Greer.

ASSISTS: George Mason -Kristy Manas 3, Melissa Venturi 2, Lisa Hagan; Delaware - Michelle Campolettano, Jenny Diana, Becky Rausa.

SAVES: George Mason - Meg Dentler 12; Delaware - Lauren Burtch (2:22) 0, Patrice Hughes (57:38) 3 SHOTS: George Mason - 17; Delaware - 32. GROUND BALLS: George Mason - 14. Delaware - 22 DRAW CONTROLS: George Mason - 10; Delaware - 10. CAUSED TURNOVERS: George Mason - 4; Delaware - 7