FAIRFAX, Va. – With less than nine minutes remaining in the match, Alex Herrera was able to dish it off to an open Timi Mulgrew inside the box who put it in the right corner of the net for the game-deciding goal against UMass on Sunday, giving Mason the 2-1 victory.
The Patriots move to 6-2-1 overall and pick up their first win in Atlantic 10 play for a conference record of 1-0. UMass falls to 1-10-1 on the season and moves their conference record to 0-2.
Herrera and Mulgrew found an opening together, running up the middle of the field when Herrera made a touch pass to his left and found Mulgrew. Mulgrew took it inside the box and finished off the play with a shot to the right corner of the net, putting Mason up 2-1 in the 81st minute with his first goal of the season. Solid defense held off the Minutemen for the remainder of the game to preserve the win.
UMass was first to get on the board when they converted a corner kick attempt in the 19th minute. Josh Schwartz crossed his corner kick into the middle of the box where Matt Keys put a head on the ball and put it by freshman Steffen Kraus for the early lead. UMass would land three shots on goal during the game and four overall.
The Minutemen were able to control the game early by keeping Mason off the scoreboard in the first half but the Green and Gold came out ready in the second half, tying up the match less than three minutes into play. After a Hugh Roberts shot inside box deflected off the right post, freshman Zach Herstek was there to clean up the mess and kick in the rebound to even the score at one.
With the score even at one, Umass had a scoring chance in the 70th minute but was unable to convert. Luke Pavone was able to make a nice cross pass from the left side inside the box to an open teammate, however the pass sailed past and out of bounds. Nearly ten minutes later Mason would score the deciding goal.
The Patriots next game will again be at George Mason Field when Mason takes on conference rival VCU in a 7 p.m. matchup on Sunday, October 20.
