COLUMBUS, OHIO – In the opening game of the Ohio State Tournament, the George Mason women's soccer team dropped a 4-1 decision to Indiana at Jesse Owens Stadium Friday afternoon.
Indiana outshot the Patriots 12-6 in the game, including a 7-3 shots on goal advantage, but it was Mason that looked to strike first as Megan Benitez and Kaila Williams each put shots on goal for the Patriots before Indiana broke through. Benitez forced Sarah Stone into the first save of the game in the 26th minute with a shot from in the box, while Williams looked for a score in the 31st minute from the top of the box. The Hoosiers opened the scoring in the 41st minute with a Mykayla Brown tally. Kailee Feinstein found Brown who finished the feed on the far post from 10 yards out on the right wing. Jessie Bujouves cushioned Indiana's lead with a goal in the 55th minute from Kayla Smith.
Sarah Hardison cut Mason's deficit in half converting a penalty kick in the 62nd minute. The momentum was short-lived however as Indiana answered converting their own penalty kick after Laura Glew was whistled for a red card in the 65th minute, causing the Patriots to play a man down the remainder of the contest. Abby Smith converted the PK for a 3-1 Hoosier advantage. Annelle Leitner concluded the scoring for the Hoosiers in the 86th minute from Brown.
"Unfortunately we were not good enough on the day to absorb a solid Indiana team," stated head coach Diane Drake. "We handcuffed ourselves having to play a man down and conceded two late goals over it. We struggled to keep possession and definitely will need to make some significant changes for Sunday's match to be successful. We will regroup and come out stronger."
Glew saw her first action in goal, splitting time with Briana Kottler. Also seeing their first action was Emily Harvey, Gabrielle Cook and Hollie Byer as Harvey put a shot on goal, while Benitez and Williams added a pair for the Patriots. Kottler made two stops in the contest.
With the loss, Mason dropped to 1-4, while Indiana improved to 3-2.
Mason closes out the tournament facing host Ohio State on Sunday at 2 p.m.
