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FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason women's lacrosse team gets set to take the field this weekend and hopefully build off a record-setting 2016 campaign.  

The Patriots open the 2017 season on the road against William & Mary at 1 p.m. Saturday in Williamsburg, Va. Mason returns 15 letterwinners and nine starters from a team that matched the school record with 12 wins last year and tied for second place in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Jessy Morgan returns for her third year as head coach. The former University of Virginia assistant and All-American has guided the Patriots to their best two-year run (22-12) in program history. Mason has made the Atlantic 10 Tournament in each of Morgan's two seasons and, last year, set a program record for conference wins with seven as the Patriots earned the No. 2 seed. This season, the Patriots were picked to finish fourth in the A-10 preseason coaches poll.

Mason, which went 12-5 overall and 7-2 in A-10 play, also returns six of their top seven scorers from last year and  five who scored at least 20 goals. Leading the way is senior Alexa McGovern, a two-time Atlantic 10 First Team All-Conference midfielder. The 5-foot-8 captain scored 41 goals in 2016 for the most by a Patriot since 2008 and tied for eight-most in a single season in program history. McGovern also led the Patriots in draw controls (46) last year. She needs just eight draw controls to pass Emily Ellisen (118 from 2009-12) for most all-time.

Sophomore Chachi Kelehan also returns after a rookie campaign in which scored 34 goals and dished out 13 assists for 47 points (tops among returners) to earn All-Rookie Team honors. Senior Jordan Sdanowich (30 goals) and senior captain Brooke Lorber (21 goals, 23 assists) are also back.

Junior Hannah Warpinski returns after a stellar season in which she filled the stat sheet with 20 goals, 16 assists, 38 draw controls, 22 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers. Defensively, junior Kira Greer will anchor the back line after she collected a team-high 37 ground balls and caused 21 turnovers to earn Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team honors.

Sophomore Elizabeth Benedetto returns in goal after playing in 13 games and making 12 starts. She was tabbed to the A-10 All-Rookie Team as she ranked among league leaders in saves (95), save percentage (.505) and goals against average (7.84). Her goals against average (93 goals allowed in 711 minutes) is the lowest percentage by a goalie in a single season in program history. She also recorded nine wins – tied for third-most in a season in school history.

William & Mary went 7-9 in 2016 and 1-5 in Colonial Athletic Association play. The Tribe opened their season last weekend at home with a 13-3 loss to Maryland, which reached the national championship game last year. Mason is 6-17 all-time against William & Mary. The teams haven't met since 2013 when the Tribe picked up a 16-12 victory.