April 12, 2005
FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason slips out of league action to conclude a four-game home stand with a non-conference 7 p.m. women's lacrosse clash Wednesday evening at George Mason Stadium against No. 5 and defending national champion Virginia. The Cavaliers, who are 9-2 on the season, lead the all-time series 6-0. The Patriots, who are 2-5 at home this year, enter the match having won three of their last four contests and own a 4-7 mark.
The two teams have met once each season since 1999. Last year in Charlottesville, the Cavaliers rallied from three separate one-goal deficits in the first half to earn a 10-5 victory.
Junior attacker Sarah Bryant (Fairfax Station, Va.) leads George Mason in goals scored (18) and points (23). Senior attacker Kristy Manas (Harwood, Md.) has a team-high 11 assists and is second with 19 points. Freshman attackers Christina Frank (Forest Hill, Md.) (13G, 3A, 16P) and Laura King (Springfield, Va.) (15G, 1A, 16P) also pace the team in scoring.
Defensively, George Mason has held four straight opponents to less than 10 goals a game. All-American senior goalkeeper Meg Dentler (Crofton, Md.) has been solid in the net with an overall 8.66 goals-against average and a 58.1 save percentage. She averages 12.4 saves per game. Sophomores Melissa Curry (Edgewater, Md.) and Katie Linnertz (Syracuse, N.Y.) own 18 and 16 caused turnovers, respectively, while junior Michele Brady (Fairfax, Va.) leads the team with 19.
Virginia, which has won two straight and seven of its last eight matches, is led by first-team All-American Amy Appelt who has 27 goals and 25 assists for 52 points. Three other players are also double-digit goal scorers for the Cavaliers in Tyler Leachman (38G, 4A, 42P), Cary Chasney (18G, 9A, 27P) and Kate Breslin (16G, 5A, 21P). Goalkeeper Ginger Miles owns a 7.06 goals-against average and a .590 save percentage.
UVA, which is 5-0 on the road, has defeated its last two opponents (Old Dominion and Temple) on the road by a combined score of 40-6 after losing at home to No. 2 Duke 16-12 on Apr. 2.
