FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason women's soccer team grabbed the early advantage over Penn Sunday afternoon and never surrendered the lead as the Patriots handed the Quakers their first loss of the season, 3-2, at George Mason Stadium. The victory, Mason's third consecutive, marked the first win over Penn since 2003. The loss puts Penn at 5-1-0 on the season, while Mason improves to 3-3-2 overall.
Behind goals from Alyssa Andersen and Tiana Kallenberger in the first nine minutes of play, the Patriots carried a 2-0 lead into halftime. Penn surrendered their first goal of the season just 45 seconds following kickoff. After an attempted Mary Kate Lowry pass was blocked out by a Quaker defender, Lowry slipped it out to Andersen on the right. Andersen took a quick dribble and sent a blast from 25-yards out that sailed just over the keeper's head into the far side of the net to give Mason the early advantage.
Penn put their first shot on goal in the fourth minute as Kathryn Barth passed it out to Kerry Scalora who then took a shot from the top of the penalty box, but Bodenschatz made an outstanding save to keep the Quakers off the board.
Mason doubled its lead five minutes later on Kallenberger's team-leading fourth goal of the season. Andersen carried the dribble to the near corner, slipped around a defender and dropped it back to Kallenberger on the near side. The junior sailed a shot from 20-yards out over the head of the keeper for the 2-0 advantage with the game just nine minutes old.
Penn saw a handful of scoring opportunities to close the half, but Mason's defense came up strong to hold the Quakers scoreless. The Quakers applied a lot of pressure, outshooting the Patriots 11-4 in the first half, but Bodenschatz recorded four timely saves for the Patriots. Penn also took eight of its 10 total corner kicks in the opening half.
Mason struck again early to open the second half, quickly extending their lead to 3-0. Carrying the ball from the far side, Kallenberger feed it to Nicole Clark on the near side. As Penn goalkeeper Caroline Williams came out to intercept the play, Clark slipped around the keeper and punched it in for the 3-0 Patriot lead in the 47th minute.
Replacing Bodenschatz at the half, Lyndse Hokanson came up with several big saves in the second half. The Quakers threatened when Callan Parra received a cross from Kathryn Barth on the near side and put a shot on goal aiming high as Hokanson reached to make the save in the 71st minute.
After several attempts, Penn got on board using a penalty kick by Marin McDermott with just over 11 minutes to play. Less than four minutes later, the Quakers cut the score to a one-goal differential as Hokanson came out to cut off an approaching play, but McDermott was able to slip it behind the keeper on an assist from Brianna Rano. Neither team took a shot in the final eight minutes as regulation ended.
Penn outshot Mason 21-10 in the contest and took 10 corner kicks, while not allowing one. Andersen and Nicole Clark led the Patriots with three shots each in the contest. Scalora led the Quakers with six attempts. Bodenschatz and Hokanson combined for nine saves (Hokanson recorded five), while Quaker keepers Sarah Banks and Williams each had two.
Off to their best start since 1998, Penn entered the match as one of only two teams in the nation to not have allowed a goal this season. The Quakers are receiving votes in the latest NSCAA National Poll and are ranked No. 2 in the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Poll.
With the win, Mason closed out this five-game homestand and hits the road for the next three matches. The Patriots open Colonial Athletic Association play at Old Dominion on Friday, September 23 at 7 p.m.
