April 26, 2004

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. - It wasn't pretty, but it was effective. George Mason scored 12 goals, including seven straight in the first half, on a season-high 38 shots Monday evening in topping visiting American 12-5 in women's lacrosse action on rain-soaked GMU Stadium. Senior midfielder Lisa Hagan (Collingswood, NJ) and junior attacker Tracy Waterson (Niskayuna, NY) each recorded hat tricks for the Patriots, who close out their home schedule with a 7-8 overall mark heading into this weekend's CAA Tournament. Senior midfielder Tara Michael led American with two goals and an assist as the Eagles drop to 7-8 overall before their conference tournament.

In a flurry of first half activity, American took it to the Patriots early, scoring the first two goals of the contest in the first four minutes behind tallies from senior midfielder Nicole McCarthy off an assist from Michael and a free position netter from freshman Caitlin Gorman. Although in a quagmire, Mason didn't flinch, registering the next seven goals to stake a 7-2 advantage with 11:59 left in the frame. Junior attacker Kristy Manas (Harwood, MD), who led the game with three assists, scored first for the Patriots at 23:50.

After a Jeannine Ohler (Jr., A, Malvern, PA) free position, Hagan tossed in two straight and freshman attacker Melissa Venturi (Sewell, NJ) took passes from Waterson and freshman defender Melissa Curry (Edgewater, MD) to put Mason on top 5-2 midway through the period. Waterson scored unassisted and senior midfielder Stacy Berger (Baltimore, MD) connected off a pass from Venturi for the 7-2 margin. Michael drew the Eagles to within four at 10:49, but Berger answered on a free position shot with 6:48 left in the period. Michael would net the final tally of the half for the Eagles at 5:37 as junior defender Brandi Evans (Fort Howard, MD) and Hagan sealed the 10-4 halftime score with goals in the final five minutes.

The frenetic first half pace slowed in the second as Mason managed to extend its lead with an early free position goal from Waterson at 28:51. Manas would find Waterson later in the frame while Rebecca Copeland netted the lone second half goal for the Eagles at 24:36. Patriot defenders Evans, Curry, junior Amanda Thornburg (Springfield, VA) and sophomore Michele Brady (Fairfax, VA) helped cause 18 turnovers in the contest. Curry registered a season- and career-best six CTs, while Evans finished with a season- and career-high 10 ground balls.

George Mason goalkeeper Meg Dentler (Crofton, MD) stopped 10 shots and allowed only five goals, while American keeper Kathleen Finnegan posted 16 saves and allowed 12 scores.

Limiting the Eagles to only five goals, the Patriots tied a school record set during the 1999 season in holding five consecutive opponents to under 10 goals in a game.

George Mason, seeded No. 4 in the CAA Tournament, will face top-seeded James Madison Saturday at 12 p.m. in a semifinal contest in Harrisonburg, Va.

Line Score
American (7-8) - 4-1=5
No. 18 George Mason (7-8) - 10-2=12

Goals-Assists: GMU- Tracy Waterson 3-1, Lisa Hagan 3-0, Kristy Manas 1-3, Stacy Berger 2-0, Melissa Venturi 1-1, Jeannine Ohler 1-0, Brandi Evans 1-0, Melissa Curry 0-1; AU- Tara Michael 2-1, Caitlin Gorman 1-0, Nicole McCarthy 1-0, Rebecca Copeland 1-0, Lindsay Cartin 0-1; Goalkeepers: GMU- Meg Dentler 10 svs, 5 GA; AU- Kathleen Finnegan 16 svs, 12 GA

Team	       Shots	GB	CTs	TOs	FPS	Fouls	DC
George Mason	38	29	18	16	3-4	12	6
American	19	20	6	23	2-4	5	11