April 7, 2005
FAIRFAX, Va. - This weekend, the George Mason's women's lacrosse team is seeking to do what no other Patriot lacrosse team has ever done, and that is to go 4-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association. To do so, the Patriots must get through Towson Friday evening at 7 p.m. and No. 20 Delaware Sunday at 12 noon. Both games will be played at George Mason Stadium.
Mason, which stands at 3-6 overall after two straight victories, is 2-0 in the CAA for the first time since the 2002 season. A victory against the Tigers (7-3, 1-2 CAA) Friday would push the Patriots to 3-0 in league play for the first time since 2000. Wins over both Towson and Delaware (4-4, 1-2 CAA) would lift the team to 4-0 in the CAA for the first time in school history and tie the mark for most conference wins in a season.
Junior attacker Sarah Bryant (Fairfax Station, Va.) leads George Mason in goals scored (15) and is tied for the team in points (19). Senior attacker Kristy Manas (Harwood, Md.) has a team-high 11 assists and also has 19 points. Freshman attackers Christina Frank (Forest Hill, Md.) (11G, 2A, 13P) and Laura King (Springfield, Va.) (11G, 0A, 11P) also pace the team in scoring.
Defensively, George Mason has held its last two CAA opponents to a 5.50 goals against average with victories over Old Dominion (8-4) and William & Mary (12-7). Sophomores Melissa Curry (Edgewater, Md.) and Katie Linnertz (Syracuse, N.Y.) own 18 and 12 caused turnovers, respectively, while junior Michele Brady (Fairfax, Va.) has 17. All-American senior goalkeeper Meg Dentler (Crofton, Md.) has been solid in the net with an overall 8.80 goals-against average and a 57.3 save percentage. She averages 12.2 saves per game, which leads the conference.
The Patriots are 6-2 against the Tigers in the series that dates back to 1997. Mason had won six consecutive contests before dropping a close 11-10 decision at Towson last season. The Patriots lost the first meeting in the series at home back in 1997, but has since won three straight in Fairfax.
The Tigers, who are 3-3 on the road, have four players scoring double digits in goals in Becky Trumbo, Shannon Witzel, Amy Middleton and Erin Cayea. Trumbo, who leads the CAA in assists and points per game, has scored 30 goals and 19 assists for 49 points. Witzel, who leads the conference in goals per game, has 35 on the year with nine assists for 44 points. Goalkeeper Mandy Corry owns an 8.20 goals-against average and a 54.9 save percentage. The Tigers began the season with five consecutive victories, but have since lost three of their last five. Towson enters Friday's match up owning the league's second-best goals scoring average at 12.30 per game. In three CAA contests, the Tigers average 9.33 gpg.
Delaware leads the all-time series against the Patriots, 3-2, but Mason has won the last two meetings. The Patriots are 0-1 at home against the Fightin' Blue Hens, having last faced UD in Fairfax back in 1995. UD has lost two straight and three of their last four after starting the season 3-1. Delaware visits James Madison Friday afternoon before heading to Fairfax for Sunday's contest.
The Hens also have four double-digit scorers in Becky Rausa (15G, 8A, 23P), Erin Edell (16G, 4A, 20P), Casey McCrudden (15G, 0A, 15P) and Katie Muth (14G, 0A, 14P). Delaware goalie Patrice Hughes carries a 9.03 GAA and a 44.0 save percentage. The Hens average 12.00 goals overall and 10.00 gpg against league opponents.
