March 4, 2009
Box Score
WASHINGTON, D.C. -
First-year women's lacrosse head coach Lauren Rywak, a 2002 graduate of George Mason University, earned the first win of her coaching career at Mason with a 16-11 victory over George Washington on Wednesday afternoon at Mount Vernon Field in Washington, D.C. Freshman midfielder Julianne Tela scored five goals to power the Patriots' attack.
"We started the season with back-to-back road games, so being able to obtain a win against George Washington on the road was a great achievement," said head coach Lauren Rywak. "Our plan going into the game was to get on the scoreboard early and secure the lead. We executed that plan well and even though GW put up a fight we were able to notch in security goals to come away with the win. The girls played hard and I was proud of their tenacity throughout the entire game - never letting up or settling."
Mason fell behind early and trailed 4-2 after GW sophomore midfielder Kristin Mobyed scored her first goal of the season with 12:54 remaining in the first period. Junior Taylor Donohue was credited with an assist on the goal.
The Patriots answered immediately, scoring a goal 11 seconds later to cut the deficit to one. Tela's goal ignited a 6-0 run to close the first period of play with Mason leading 8-4.
After the intermission, the Patriots tacked on three more goals in the first 6:10 to take an 11-4 advantage. Including the conclusion of the first half and the beginning of the second, Mason outscored the Colonials' 9-0. The run spanned 22:18 of clock time and included three goals by Tela and two each off the sticks of sophomore Chelsea Gamble and freshman Emily Ellisen.
After GW freshman Allie Monticollo ended the run with a free-position goal with 20:25 remaining, Mason answered with a goal of its own with 18:57 remaining. Madalyn Jamison fed the ball to Callie Hoyt, whose shot found the back of the net past the stick of GW goalkeeper Christine Lovett.
Trailing 12-5, the Colonials mounted a comeback in front of their home fans. George Washington scored six consecutive goals, ending the 6-0 spurt with a free-position goal by sophomore Lauren Mobyed with 5:30 remaining in the contest. Freshman Kristina Beese scored a pair of goals during the run.
With its lead cut to a single goal, George Mason responded with a 4-0 run to close the contest and seal the victory. Senior attacker Brittany Berger started the run, and Alana Chan, Gamble and Tela all tacked on scores in the final 3:07 of play.
Tela (5), Gamble (3), Brittany Berger (2) and Ellisen (2) all scored multiple goals in the game for the Patriots. Brittany Berger and Gamble helped Mason record a 17-12 advantage in team draw controls as Berger finished with six and Gamble added four. Senior Maggie Bridges led the Patriots' defensive unit with three caused turnovers and five ground balls.
Senior Katherine Sampson scored three goals to lead the Colonials. Junior Mia Breheny added a goal, three caused turnovers and three ground balls in the contest.
With the win, the Patriots improve their record to 1-2 on the season. George Washington remains winless in 2009 with an 0-5 record.
George Mason remains on the road for its next contest, traveling to Finnesey Field in Philadelphia, Pa. to take on the Saint Joseph's Hawks at noon on Saturday, March 7.
