Aug. 25, 2010

Box Score

Washington D.C. - The George Mason women's soccer team opened the 2010 season on Wednesday night and the Patriots overcame a lack of rhythm early to take a decisive 2-0 win at Howard. Dating back to last year, Mason has won five straight and is unbeaten in its past nine contests.

"It was a greatly improved Howard team," said Mason head coach Diane Drake, who picked up her 99th career win. "I thought we did a good job, specifically in the second half to control the rhythm and take the game over. We found our ability to control the tempo and possession and that was critical to getting the W."

Howard (0-2-0) had taken four shots before Mason (1-0-0) managed a single one, but that one was all the Patriots needed to take a halftime lead. In the 36th minute, Zania Barnum threw the ball in to Cami Verschooris on the right side and she played the ball back to an unmarked Barnum. The junior took her time and blasted a ball from 30 yards out that went in high in the middle of the net to make it 1-0.

The Patriots had an excellent scoring opportunity in the 61st minute when Crissy Parker and Omolyn Davis played the ball back-and-forth culminating in a terrific shot from Parker on the right wing. But senior Cheyra Bell, in her first start in net, made a diving save to keep it a one-goal game. It would stay that way for less than a minute as Davis streaked down the right side and found a crossing Alyssa Andersen who touched the ball into the left corner of the net to make it 2-0.

The match was relatively even in every statistical category except goals and shots on goal. Mason outshot Howard 9-7, the Patriots had five shots on goal to Howard's two and the Bison had a 8-6 edge in fouls. Corners were 3-2 in Mason's favor and Howard was whistled for the match's lone offsides. Alex Bodenschatz made two saves in net for Mason while Bell had three saves for the Bison.

The Patriots will return to action on Sunday with their home opener, a 3 p.m. match against Navy.