NEWARK, Del. - Tiana Kallenberger scored the equalizer in
the second half for the George Mason women's soccer team, but Delaware was able
to seal the 2-1 Colonial Athletic Association win in overtime Sunday afternoon
at Delaware Mini Stadium. After its second league contest, Mason dipped to
4-6-1 overall and 0-1-1 in CAA play, while Delaware improved to 5-4, 2-0.
Delaware took the early lead with a goal in the 22nd
minute as Kallenberger knotted the score with her seventh goal of the season in
the second half. As the teams stood tied at the end of regulation, the Blue
Hens scored just under six minutes into overtime as Ali Miller took a shot from
12-yards out that was blocked by a Mason defender. Miller controlled the
rebound and on the second shot, sent the attempt over Lyndse Hokanson into the
left corner for the game-winner.
For the game, Delaware put eight shots on goal to Mason's
seven as the home squad held a slight advantage overall 12-10 in shots and a
7-5 advantage in corner kicks. Kallenberger and Kelly Pizzingrilli led Mason
with two shots each, all on frame. For the Blue Hens, Tania Domingos registered
four shots, putting three on target. Both goalkeepers recorded six saves each
in the contest.
Trailing 1-0 at intermission, Mason evened the score at
1-all in the second half on Kallenberger's tally. The senior dribbled around a
trio of Blue Hen defenders in the 60th minute and took a shot from
18-yards out on the near post into the far corner of the net for the equalizer.
In the 67th minute, Hokanson erased a Domingos
threat as the Blue Hen received a pass from Miller on the outside and tried to
finish the play from the near post, but Hokanson was in position to scoop up
the shot.
Emma Starr tried for the game-winner off a Shianne Mack free
kick in front of the Mason bench in the 88th minute. The kick sailed
into the near corner as Liz Hodges took a touch and Starr, on the far post,
aimed for the near corner, but the shot went wide and Mason entered its second
overtime contest in as many games.
In an even-played first half, both teams put three shots on
frame as Delaware outshot Mason by one, 4-3. Delaware goalkeeper Jessica Levy
made three saves to keep the Patriots off the scoreboard, while Hokanson
recorded two stops.
Pizzingrilli looked to give the Patriots the early lead as
the sophomore sailed a shot from 25-yards out in the middle forcing Levy into a
jump to punch the attempt above the crossbar in the ninth minute.
Delaware saw a solid scoring opportunity in the 15th
minute when Duffy blasted a shot from the far post, but a Mason defender came
in behind Hokanson and kicked out the attempt to keep the Blue Hens off the
board.
Delaware broke through in the 22nd minute as
Shannon Kearney collected the ball and sailed a shot from the far side into the
right corner past the hands of Hokanson for the 1-0 advantage.
Sydney Mitchell tried for the equalizer with just over a
minute and a half remaining in the opening period, but the shot from 15-yards
out in the middle of the box went directly to Levy for the save as the teams
entered intermission with Delaware leading 1-0.
After nearly a month on the road, Mason returns
to Fairfax for a two-game homestand beginning with William & Mary on
Friday, September 28th at 7 p.m.