April 25, 2005
Box Score
WASHINGTON - Ten different players scored goals as George Mason's women's lacrosse team out shot American 40-18 en route to a convincing 13-8 victory over the host Eagles Monday afternoon in non-conference action at Reeves Field.
Freshman attacker Christina Frank (Forest Hill, Md.) posted a hat trick to lead all scorers as Mason won its second consecutive game and closed its regular season with a 7-9 mark. Sophomore midfielder Melissa Venturi (Sewell, N.J.) dished out three assists and freshman attacker Laura King (Springfield, Pa.) had two goals.
The Patriots, who led by as many as four goals for most of the game, were ahead 12-4 in the second half after finishing a four-goal run with 6:42 left. Shortly after Mason inserted many of its reserves and rested its starters for the remainder of the contest, American managed to launch a comeback. The Eagles ran off three consecutive goals in under a minute, including a goal and an assist from freshman Lauren Aksionoff, to trim the margin to 12-7.
Another AU score with 57 seconds remaining made it a four-goal run and 12-7 deficit, but sophomore defender Melissa Curry (Edgewater, Md.) halted the spurt, scoring her first career goal with 45 seconds left in the contest, resulting in the 12-8 margin.
George Mason took it to the Eagles early. The Patriots scored four goals before AU could muster a shot. Mason's defensive unit of sophomores Curry, Katie Linnertz (Syracuse, N.Y.), junior Michele Brady (Fairfax, Va.) and senior Amanda Thornburg (Springfield, Va.) prevented the Eagles from attempting a shot in the first 18 minutes and 29 seconds of the game (11:31 showing on the clock).
Mason would go on to lead 6-1 at halftime and out shot the Eagles 24-5 in the opening period. American goalkeeper Kathleen Finnegan, who finished with 18 saves, made 12 in the first half. Aksionoff led the Eagles (6-10) with two goals and two assists, while Sarah Milewski had two goals.
Mason senior goalkeeper Meg Dentler (Crofton, Md.) made five saves. Mason recorded very balanced scoring from its offense as the starters accounted for seven goals and the reserves connected on six. Freshman attacker Alex Velesz (Woodbridge, Va.) logged a goal and an assist for the Patriots.
George Mason returns to action this weekend in the semifinals of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament. The Patriots are the third seed and will face second-seeded Towson Saturday, April 30 at 2:30 p.m. on the campus of Hofstra University. Top-seeded Hofstra will host #4 seed Delaware Saturday at 12 p.m.
Line Score
George Mason (7-9) - 6-7=13
American (6-10) - 1-7=8
Goals-Assists--GM: Christina Frank 3-0,
Laura King 2-0,
Melissa Venturi 0-3,
Alex Velesz 1-1,
Melissa Curry 1-0,
Sarah Bryant 1-0,
Jess Shelton 1-0,
Megan Bartlett 1-0,
Tracy Waterson 1-0,
Jennifer Thomas 1-0,
Kristy Manas 1-0;
A: Lauren Aksionoff 2-2, Sarah Milewski 2-0, Moriah Linnell 1-0, Brittany Finnegan 1-0, Rebecca Copeland 1-0, Caithlin Gorman 1-0, Jackie Lane 0-1.
Goalkeepers (svs-GA-min)--GM: Meg Dentler 5-8-60;
A: Kathleen Finnegan 18-13-60.
Team Shots GB CT TO Fouls DC
George Mason 40 36 16 16 18 12
American 18 29 8 22 8 11
SCORING SUMMARY
GEORGE MASON AT AMERICAN
REEVES FIELD, WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 25, 2005
FIRST HALF (H-V)
27:03 GM Christina Frank 0-1
26:37 GM Megan Bartlett (Alex Velesz) 0-2
21:14 GM Frank 0-3
12:03 GM Frank (FP) 0-4
11:17 A Lauren Aksionoff (Jackie Lane) 1-4
7:24 GM Jennifer Thomas 1-5
5:09 GM Laura King (Melissa Venturi) 1-6
SECOND HALF (H-V)
27:05 A Sarah Milewski 2-6
26:07 GM Sarah Bryant (Melissa Venturi) 2-7
23:42 A Milewski 3-7
23:23 GM Alex Velesz 3-8
17:58 A Rebecca Copeland (Lauren Aksionoff) 4-8
11:01 GM Kristy Manas 4-9
10:49 GM Jess Shelton 4-10
7:57 GM Tracy Waterson (Venturi) 4-11
6:42 GM Laura King 4-12
5:43 A Caithlin Gorman (Aksionoff) 5-12
5:13 A Lauren Aksionoff 6-12
4:47 A Brittany Finnegan 7-12
0:57 A Moriah Linnell 8-12
0:45 GM Melissa Curry 8-13
