NEW YORK, N.Y. -
Anna
Kopecka
and Caitlin Formato
combined to erase a two-goal deficit in regulation
and freshman Kopecka scored with 1:32 left in double overtime to lift the
George Mason lacrosse team past Columbia at Robert K. Kraft Field Thursday
afternoon.
Mason (2-6) held a 6-1 lead early in the first half, but Columbia
(1-4) worked its way back and brought it to a one-goal contest at 7-6 at
intermission. The Lions immediately came out in the second frame and took the
lead with three unanswered goals. Julianne Tela
knotted the score at 9-9 with a
tally at the 23:20 mark as Columbia took a two-goal advantage twice before
Kopecka and Formato scored within a minute of each other to tie the score at
13-13 with 1:13 left in regulation. Both teams were scoreless in the final
minute, sending the contest into overtime.
Mason took three shots in the first overtime, including a
Kopecka attempt that went wide with two seconds remaining, but was unable to
convert. Karlee Blank picked up her fifth and final save of the game in the
period as the teams went into a sudden-victory situation.
Mason earned all three draw controls in overtime, capped by Chelsea
Gamble's
to start the second. The Patriots failed to convert on a free position
attempt with 2:04 left before Kopecka scored the game-winning shot off an
assist from Gamble in the game's 68th
minute.
Emily Ellisen
led the Patriots with four goals in the
contest while Kopecka posted three. Madalyn Jamison
and Allie Hilderbrandt
both
added two with Gamble, Formato and Tela contributing one apiece. Jamison added
a pair of assists to finish with four points. Brittany Pastrana
played the full
game in cage recording five saves.
Taylor Gattinella paced the Lions with four goals while
three players added three apiece. Kacie Johnson picked up a game-high three
assists.
With the win, Mason wrapped up this eight-game road swing
and returns to Fairfax to open its home slate on Wednesday, March 23 against
American. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at George Mason Stadium.
