FAIRFAX, Va. –Brenna Connell scored her first goal of the season to give the George Mason women's soccer team the early advantage, but it was short-lived as VCU bounced back and secured a 5-1 victory Friday night at George Mason Stadium.

Scoring unassisted in the 16^th minute, Connell put Mason on the scoreboard first with her first career collegiate goal. The freshman collected the ball just past midfield amongst a plethora of defenders and blasted a shot from 25-yards out that hit the near post and bounced into the right corner of the net for the 1-0 Mason lead.

VCU would then rattle off three goals in the next 11 minutes to gain the permanent and final lead. Taryn Cressy knotted the game at 1-all converting a penalty kick at the 21:08 mark as Maren Johansen put the Rams in front 2-1 with a tally in the 28^th minute of play. Johansen received a Courtney Conrad pass from the right post and put it past the keeper from five-yards out to give VCU its first lead of the contest. The visiting squad cushioned their lead using another Conrad assist, this time, finding Natalie Moik. From the near corner, Conrad crossed it to the middle of the box as Moik punched it in for the 3-1 halftime score.

Mason saw a solid opportunity early in the second half as Nicolette Herdegen looked to cut Mason's lead with a shot that hit the far post in the 53^rd minute. On the rebound, Sydney Mitchell blazed a shot that VCU goalkeeper Emma Kruse scooped up to keep the Patriots at bay.

 Lyndse Hokanson came up strong for Mason when VCU's Cressy was awarded a penalty kick at 54:58. On the shot, Hokanson punched it high as the attempt sailed above the crossbar. VCU would add two goals within a five minute period, both by Conrad in the 75^th and 80^th minutes of play for the final 5-1 score. The Patriots saw one of its final scoring chances late in the second half. Emily Harvey played a ball out to Sarah Hardison who tried to complete the pass, but Kruse was in position to make the stop.

For the contest, VCU (5-4) outshot Mason (3-4-1) 16-10, including an 11-6 shots on goal advantage. Hokanson made six saves in net, while Kruse recorded five stops, four in the second half. The Atlantic 10 foes played each other in a non-conference contest tonight.