HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - The George Mason lacrosse team dropped the opening game of this two-game road swing at Hofstra Friday night, falling 16-7 to the Pride at James M. Shuart Stadium. Emily Ellisen paced the Patriots with three goals in the Colonial Athletic Association matchup.

Hofstra (4-9, 1-4 CAA) took a 9-2 lead into halftime and was led by Jill Maier with seven points on five goals and two assists. Mason (3-13, 0-6 CAA) was paced in scoring by Ellisen with three goals, while Chelsea Gamble added two and Madalyn Jamison and Anna Kopecka each scored a goal. Jamison and Mary Schwartz assisted on two goals. Four different Patriots were credited with a caused turnover, while Kopecka led Mason with three draw controls. Brittany Pastrana played the full game in cage, collecting 14 saves and three ground balls.

Hofstra scored the first three goals of the opening half before Gamble put the Patriots on the board at the 20:53 mark. The conference foes traded the next two goals for a 4-2 margin with 13:34 to play before the Pride pulled away using a 5-0 run to carry a 9-2 lead into halftime.

The Pride continued to the run to open the second half with three goals before Jamison ended the spurt converting a free position attempt at the 22:37 marker. Hofstra, however, continued to increase its advantage, taking its largest lead of the game at 15-4 with 14:55 remaining in the contest. Ellisen's second goal of the evening jumpstarted a 3-0 Mason run, cutting the score to 15-7 as Ellisen capped the run with her third goal at 3:35. Hofstra closed the scoring with a goal at the 2:04 marker for the final 16-7 score.

Mason closes regular season play Sunday afternoon at Drexel. Opening draw is slated for 1 p.m.