2017 Schedule
FAIRFAX, Va. – Heading into year three at the helm, George Mason women's lacrosse coach
Jessy Morgan wanted to make sure her squad received enough non-conference tests to prepare for Atlantic 10 Conference play.
She believes the 2017 schedule has accomplished that.
Home games against two Power Five conference teams highlight the 2017 schedule. In-state foe and ACC opponent Virginia Tech along with Pac-12 foe Oregon will visit Fairfax in the spring. The non-conference slate also features trips to Georgetown and former Colonial Athletic Association foe William & Mary.
"We've amped up the schedule this year," Morgan said. "This is a good mid-major schedule. It is a chance for us to kind of get more national recognition. It is a chance for us to go to the next level. If our goal is to be in that top 20, we have to play these teams in order to do that.
"We've been fairly successful the last two years. It was time to really play better competition."
The Patriots open the season at William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va., on Feb. 18 for their earliest start in five years. They then visit crosstown rival and Big East adversary Georgetown on March 4.
Mason welcomes in Virginia Tech for its home opener on March 8 at George Mason Stadium. The Patriots hold a 10-5 record all-time against the Hokies. But the teams last played each other in 2011 and this will be Virginia Tech's first visit to Fairfax since 2010.
The Patriots will cap off non-conference play on March 27 at home with a visit from Oregon. This is just the second meeting in the series. The Ducks defeated Mason 15-9 last season in Eugene, Ore. The non-conference portion of the schedule also features road trips to High Point and Coastal Carolina and home games against in-state foes Liberty and Longwood.
Mason opens Atlantic 10 Conference play at home on March 31 against La Salle. The Patriots will also host St. Bonaventure, George Washington, Richmond and Saint Joseph's. They'll hit the road to play Duquesne, VCU, Massachusetts and Davidson. UMass won the A-10 championship for the eighth straight season and reached the Elite Eight before falling to national champion runner-up Maryland.
The Patriots tied a school record with 12 wins last year and finished in a three-way tie for second place in the Atlantic 10. They finished with a 7-2 mark in A-10 play for their most conference wins in program history. The second-place finish also marks their highest finish in the A-10.
In two years, Morgan has guided the Patriots to 22 wins for the best two-year stretch in program history. She has also led Mason to the Atlantic 10 Tournament both seasons and this past spring the Patriots received a first-round bye and the No. 2 seed for its highest seeding.
In hopes of knocking off UMass, which has won 45 straight Atlantic 10 games for the longest conference winning streak in NCAA women's lacrosse history, Morgan says the Patriots have made their out of conference matchups more challenging.
"In order to be at the top of the A-10, it was important that we extended ourselves a little," Morgan said. "We know a pristine record may not be the end result but that is not our end result. We need to win in the A-10. We just need to get better every one. It is important we rise to the next level."
2017 George Mason Lacrosse Schedule
Feb. 18 at William & Mary 1 p.m.
March 4 at Georgetown 3 p.m.
March 8 Virginia Tech 6 p.m.
March 11 Liberty 1 p.m.
March 15 at High Point 6 p.m.
March 18 at Coastal Carolina 1 p.m.
March 25 at Longwood 2 p.m.
March 27 Oregon 6 p.m.
March 31 La Salle* 5 p.m.
April 2 St. Bonaventure* 12 p.m.
April 7 at Duquesne* 4 p.m.
April 9 at VCU* 1 p.m.
April 13 George Washington* 6 p.m.
April 16 Richmond* 12 p.m.
April 21 Saint Joseph's* 4 p.m.
April 23 at Massachusetts* 1 p.m.
April 29 at Davidson* 1 p.m.
May 4-7 Atlantic 10 Tournament TBA
*Atlantic 10 Conference game
Atlantic 10 Tournament to be hosted by Saint Joseph's in Philadelphia, Pa.
