WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the first contest of the Revolutionary Rivalry for the 2014-15 season, George Washington escaped with a 2-1 win over the George Mason women's soccer team on Saturday afternoon. Erin Mitchell scored her first collegiate goal with a tally in the 69th minute.
Each team recorded six shots on goal, but an insurance goal from GW early in the second half proved to be the game-winner. Mason looked to stage a late rally, but could not overcome the first half deficit. Nicole Belfonti put the Colonials up 1-0 in the 16th minute with an unassisted goal as the Colonial's shot from 30-yards out deflected off the crossbar into the upper left corner of the net. Mason registered five shots in the final minutes of the half looking to even the score, but the Colonials would carry the 1-0 lead into halftime.
Eight minutes into the second half, MacKenzie Cowley cushioned GW's lead with an assisted goal from Elizabeth Casey. Off a Madison Davis corner kick, Casey took a shot and Cowley deflected it in for the 2-0 GW lead. After a Laura Glew save to keep the score a 2-0, Mitchell cut the score in half with her first goal of the season in the 69th minute. Brenna Connell crossed it to Mitchell from the left side as the freshman tapped it in to make the score 2-1. Liz Hodges was credited with the double-assist on the goal.
Mason continued to attack late in the second half looking for the equalizer, but fell short of the goal as GW closed out the win, 2-1.
For the contest, Mason outshot GW, 13-11, and placed six shots on frame led by Liz Hodges with two shots on goal. Glew played the full 90 minutes in goal and recorded four saves. The Patriots tested Colonial goalkeeper Miranda Horn, forcing the keeper into five saves to come away with the win.
“I thought we deserved more from this match,” stated head coach Diane Drake. “We showed improved and inspiring play to set us up for Atlantic 10 competition. We played with a fiery passion against a very talented GW team and brought energy in how we attacked the goal which has been inconsistent in past games. We now enter conference play with a clean slate and begin a new season.”
With the win, George Washington takes a 1-0 lead in the annual Revolutionary Rivalry between the two schools. Up next in the rivalry is women's volleyball on October 3 in the RAC.
Mason opens Atlantic 10 Conference play next weekend traveling to UMass on Friday and Rhode Island for a Sunday matinee.
