Men's Soccer | 10/4/2017 5:22:00 PM

Box Score WASHINGTON – For the first time this season the George Mason men's soccer team couldn't find the back of the net.

The Patriots failed to score for the first time as Revolutionary Rival George Washington scored just 55 seconds into overtime to nab a 1-0 victory on Wednesday afternoon at the turf field of the Mount Vernon Athletic Complex.

In Mason's Atlantic 10 road opener, GW's Oscar Haynes Brown stole the ball about 30 yards away and then drove in for a breakaway goal he slipped inside the far post. The loss snapped a three-game unbeaten streak for Mason (5-3-2, 0-1-1 A-10). The Colonials (3-5-2, 1-1) won their third straight in the series.

The Patriots entered Wednesday leading the Atlantic 10 and ranked 12th in Division I averaging 2.22 goals a game. Mason recorded nine shots but only fired off three after halftime.

"The guys tried really hard and I think there was a lot of effort all around," Mason goalkeeper Tomas Lapnas said. "We played a good 90 minutes and we just had one mistake. Unfortunately I think that really killed us. But mistakes happen and as a team we have to come together and move forward. You lose as a team and win as a team as well. We just need another win to keep going forward."

Mason held an advantage early, notching six shots in the first half. The Patriots nearly broke through about 10 minutes in when senior captain Henning Dirks, the conference's leading scorer at eight goals, ripped a shot on goal. George Washington goalkeeper Thor Arne Hofs made a diving save but the rebound went right to the Patriots' Ryan Mingachos, who lofted a shot high over the crossbar.

Dirks led the way with four shots, including three on goal. But Hofs made four saves – three coming on shots by Dirks.

Mason's defense also stood tall as the Colonials (4-5-2, 1-1) attempted 10 shots. Lapnas made a season-high five saves, including two in the final two minutes of regulation, to help keep the game scoreless through regulation.

"I think for 90 minutes we kept them down and I don't think the score really reflected how the defense played," Lapnas said.

The Patriots will look to bounce back and secure their first conference win when they play Saint Joseph's at 7 p.m. on Saturday in Philadelphia.