April 2, 2006

Box Score

Box Score in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason (6-3, 2-0 CAA) overcame a sluggish start to earn its second consecutive victory over a conference opponent, defeating the Drexel Dragons (8-2, 0-2 CAA) by a single goal, 11-10, on Sunday afternoon at George Mason Stadium.

The Patriots started slowly in the first period, allowing the Dragons to score the first three goals of the game before junior attacker Melissa Venturi put the Patriots on the board with a free-position goal with 20:39 remaining in the period.

Drexel answered back with two more goals to take a 5-1 lead before Venturi answered again, finding the back of the net at the 16 minute mark for her second goal of the game. Sophomore midfielder Alex Velesz scored on a shot that was assisted by Brittany Berger with 12:24 remaining in the period to cut the Dragons lead to 5-3. However, Drexel answered back with two goals of its own, first by senior midfielder Colleen Rocks at the 3:04 mark then by junior midfielder Kerry Kelly with 39 seconds left, to take a 7-3 lead at the break.

The Dragons took eight more shots than the Patriots in the period and won the draw control battle, holding an 8-3 advantage at the break.

After the intermission, Drexel's Kaitlin Keegan scored at the 27:32 mark to put the Dragons ahead 8-3. Mason answered back, going on a 6-0 run over the next 12:43 to take its first lead of the game, 9-8. After Rocks scored on a free-position shot to tie the game at nine with 13:13 remaining, the Patriots scored the next two goals of the game on free-position shots by senior Sarah Bryant and Berger to take an 11-9 lead. Drexel's Gwenna Johnson scored with 6:19 remaining to cut the deficit to one, but the Patriots' defense held the Dragons' scoreless for the remainder of the game to hold onto the lead.

Venturi led the Patriots with three goals, while Velesz and sophomore Laura King both added two in the game. Berger had two assists to go along with her free-position goal. Mason was 4-for-8 on free-position shots in the game, compared to 1-for-5 for Drexel, and the Patriots held a commanding 27-17 advantage in ground balls. After losing the first period draw control battle, the Patriots were even with the Dragons in the second half in that category, with each side getting six.

The Patriots play again on Friday, April 7 against CAA foe William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va. The game is slated for a 7 p.m. start.

Score by period       1  2  Tot
-------------------------------
DREXEL..............  7  3 - 10
George Mason........  3  8 - 11

DREXEL SCORING: GOALS: Rocks, Colleen 2; Bill, Jessica 2; Bradley, Katie 1; Hoesch, Emily 1; Kelly, Kerry 1; Keegan, Kaitlin 1; Carafides, Caterina 1; Johnson, Gwenna 1. ASSISTS: Bradley, Katie 2; Adams, Nicole 1; Hoesch, Emily 1; Rocks, Colleen 1.

George Mason SCORING: GOALS: Venturi, Melissa 3; Velesz, Alex 2; King, Laura 2; Berger, Brittany 1; Shelton, Jess 1; Curry, Melissa 1; Bryant, Sarah 1. ASSISTS: Berger, Brittany 2; Shelton, Jess 1; Velesz, Alex 1.

DREXEL GROUND BALLS: Kelly, Kerry 4; Bradley, Katie 3; Johnson, Gwenna 3; Bill, Jessica 2; Rocks, Colleen 2; Carter, Sarah 1; Hoesch, Emily 1; LaBella, Lauren 1.

George Mason GROUND BALLS: Curry, Melissa 6; Bryant, Sarah 5; Alsruhe, Roxie 3; King, Laura 3; Bohn, Sarah 2; Brady, Michele 2; Linnertz, Katie 2; Bartlett, Megan 1; Berger, Brittany 1; Kolmer, Meredith 1; Venturi, Melissa 1.

DREXEL TURNOVERS CAUSED: Hoesch, Emily 3; Benzing, Kelly 2; Adams, Nicole 1; Bill, Jessica 1; Keegan, Kaitlin 1; Rocks, Colleen 1. George Mason TURNOVERS CAUSED: Curry, Melissa 2; Bohn, Sarah 1; Brady, Michele 1; Bryant, Sarah 1; King, Laura 1; Linnertz, Katie 1; Velesz, Alex 1.

SHOTS - DREXEL 35; MASON 26. SHOTS ON GOAL - DREXEL 22; MASON 23.

PENALTIES - DREXEL 0/0:00; MASON 0/0:00. MAN-UP OPPORTUNITIES - DREXEL 0-0; MASON 0-0.

TURNOVERS - DREXEL 16; MASON 19.

FACEOFFS - DREXEL 0-0; MASON 0-0.

CLEARS - DREXEL 11-12; MASON 15-16.

GOALIES - DREXEL: LaBella, Lauren 8-2 (60:00 minutes, 23 shots-12 saves, 11 GA); MASON: Alsruhe, Roxie 6-3 (60:00, 22-12, 10).

Start time: 1 pm Finish time: 2:32 pm Length of game: 1h 32m Officials: Jill Dull; Erica Davidheiser; Barbara Almond.

A-160 T-1h 32m