WOMEN'S SOCCER at UNCW
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 16, 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: UNCW Soccer Stadium
RECORDS: George Mason (5-3-0, 0-0-0 A-10); UNCW (5-1-1, 0-0-0 CAA)
SERIES RECORD: Mason leads 14-9-1
LAST MEETING: The Seahawks defeated the Patriots 1-0 Sept. 4, 2015 at George Mason Stadium
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WILMINGTON, N.C. – The George Mason women's soccer team will play its second straight road game, facing UNC Wilmington at 7 p.m. on Friday in Wilmington, N.C.
Mason (5-3-0) scored three goals in the first half at Maryland last Sunday on the way to a 5-2 win over the Terrapins. Senior Sarah Hardison tallied two goals on two shots, including the game-winner and added an assist in the victory. Senior Alex Myers also found the back of the net twice against Maryland and junior Erin Mitchell scored her first goal of the season in the win.
“We had several players for us have their best game of the season against Maryland,” Mason head coach Todd Bramble said. “Hopefully that builds the confidence of a lot of individuals and as a team.”
On Monday, Hardison was named the Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Week after netting three goals in two games.
“She scored both of those goals against Maryland with her head, but I thought she was really good in the game with the ball at her feet,” Bramble said. “She's a well-rounded player and I'm glad the conference was able to recognize a special performance by Sarah.”
The Patriots are 1-1-0 on the road this season. In their first road contest, Mason allowed two goals in the first half in a 2-0 loss at then-No. 4 Virginia on Aug. 21.
Eight different players have scored a goal for Mason over the first eight games of the season. Hardison leads Mason with four goals and 10 points, while Myers is second on the team with three goals. Sophomore Nia Elbeck and juniors Nicolette Herdegen, Abby Downey and Jenna Hamilton have recorded two goals apiece. Both of Downey's tallies this season have been game-winners. Sophomore Emily Littell, freshman Hugrun Olafsdottir and Elbeck are tied for the team lead with three assists each.
“We're never going to rely on one person to score goals for us or have one person win games by playing great defense,” said Bramble. “It's always going to be about the team here and what the collection of individuals is doing. That gives me a source of pride, that we have so many players contributing in the goal scoring department and getting assists.”
The Patriots have outscored their opponents 8-6 in the first half and 9-8 in the second half over their first eight games. Mason outshot Maryland 15-8 including a 9-1 advantage in shots on goal last Sunday. Hardison and Myers share the team lead with 16 shots, Elbeck has nine shots and Littell is third on the team with eight.
The Patriots and Seahawks are meeting for the 25th time. Last season, UNCW scored in the 23rd minute on the way to a 1-0 win over Mason in the opening game of the Patriot Invitational at George Mason Stadium. The Seahawks outshot the Patriots 16-12 and had a 5-4 edge in shots on goal. Goalkeeper Kirsten Glad made four saves in the contest. Mason leads the all-time series 14-9-1.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
UNCW (5-1-1) scored the first four goals of the game and then held on for a 4-2 win over Furman on Sunday in Greenville, S.C. The Seahawks scored late in the first half to take a 1-0 lead into the half and then tallied three goals in a span of 12 minutes in the second half to build the advantage. Senior Madison Melnick scored twice in a span of seven minutes to account for two goals for UNCW. She was an honorable mention selection for the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week.
After going undefeated in the Port City in 2015, the Seahawks are 1-1-1 at home this season. UNCW played to a 2-2 draw against Navy on Aug. 26, topped UMBC 4-1 on Aug. 28 and suffered its lone loss of the season on Sept. 4, falling to N.C. State 2-0.
UNCW is the top-ranked team in the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic poll and has outscored opponents by a combined 22-7 over the first seven games, tied for the seventh-most goals in the nation. The Seahawks rank fifth in the country, averaging 8.86 points per game. UNCW has started strong in their first seven games of the season, outscoring their opponents 11-1 in the first half.
UNCW has outshot their opponents in all seven games this season. The Seahawks have outshot opponents 71-24 in the first half and 58-24 in the second half.
Freshman Nikki Cox leads the team with six goals and 13 points while junior Serenity Waters is second on the team with four goals. Senior goalkeeper Carolyn Huddy has allowed only five goals and is 4-1-1 with a 0.87 goals against average in six games.
The Seahawks finished with an overall record of 15-7-1 last season and went 6-2-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association. UNCW defeated South Carolina in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament in 2015 before falling to Virginia in the second round.
The Seahawks went unbeaten at home with a record of 7-0-1 last season, with five of their seven victories by shutout. UNCW outscored their opponents by a combined score of 28-5 on their home turf during the 2015 campaign.
