RICHMOND, Va. – With another balanced scoring attack leading the way, the George Mason women's lacrosse team rolled to its best start in conference action.
Senior
Melissa Lobaccaro tied a career high with five goals and junior
Hannah Warpinski became the program's single-season leader in draw controls to lead the Patriots to a 19-8 victory over VCU on Sunday at Cary Street Field. Mason won its fourth straight and improved to 4-0 in Atlantic 10 play. It marks the Patriots' first 4-0 start in conference play – 20 years in the Colonial Athletic Association and four in the A-10 – in program history.
The Patriots (8-4, 4-0 A-10) scored the first four goals of the game and never trailed against the Rams. VCU (5-7, 1-3) hung around, though, and trailed just 7-5 at halftime thanks to two goals in the last 4:17 of the half.
But Mason responded right after the break, scoring the first two goals of the half to spark a 13-1 run that put the game away. Lobaccaro scored four goals during the second-half stretch, including three in a row. It was the second time in three games she has netted five goals. The midfielder from Commack, N.Y., leads the team with 31 goals and 35 points.
Less than 48 hours after setting the school record with 13 draws at Duquesne, Warpinski had another outstanding day in the circle. She had 10 of the team's 17 draw controls and has recorded at least 10 draw controls in the last three games. She now has 64 this season, surpassing Emily Ellisen's previous mark of 58 in 2012 for the most in the season. She also moves into second all-time with 120 career draw controls, second to only teammate
Alexa McGovern (152). Warpinski also scored two goals, dished out two assists, collected four ground balls and caused two turnovers against the Rams.
Senior captain
Alexa McGovern added four goals for the third straight game, collected four draw controls and had an assist. Fellow senior captain
Brooke Lorber tied a career high with three goals for the third consecutive game. She also dished out two assists. Freshman
Chachi Kelehan had two goals and two assists.
Junior
Lindsey Tangeman recorded a goal and a career-high tying three assists for the second straight contest. Freshman
Kerry Huzzard scored her first career goal on her first collegiate shot. Freshman
Hailey Johnson recorded a goal and an assist and senior
Taylor Altomare tied her career high with two assists.
Defensively, senior
Jordan Sdanowich set a career high with four caused turnovers. Freshman
Melissa Semkiw made 12 saves for the second straight game and allowed just seven goals before sophomore
Elizabeth Benedetto played the last three minutes.
The Patriots return home to host Revolutionary Rival George Washington at 6 p.m. Thursday at George Mason Stadium in Fairfax.