Men's Soccer | 9/20/2017 10:08:00 PM

Box Score

FAIRFAX, Va. – Ryan Mingachos ensured there would not be overtime Wednesday night.

The sophomore midfielder scored the game-winning goal in the 88th minute and then assisted on a goal as time expired to lead George Mason to a 3-1 victory over East Tennessee State at George Mason Stadium. Senior Henning Dirks added two goals and an assist as the Patriots (4-2-1) avoided playing into overtime for the fourth straight game.

ETSU (3-2-2) entered the matchup on a four-game unbeaten streak and tied the game just six minutes into the second half. Overtime looked inevitable until just more than three minutes remained in regulation. Dirks knocked down a kick as ETSU was trying to clear. The German forward then dumped a pass off to senior Conlan Kemmerer, who served in a pass from 20 yards out into a crowded box. The ball bounced to Mingachos, who settled the ball with his chest and then one-touched a goal into the right side for his fifth goal of the season.

"Especially on our home field, we want to keep pushing and want to take the W home," said Dirks, who leads the team with six goals and six assists. "It was a great cross from Conlan in and a nice ball by Ryan Mingachos. At the end, we got another one and it was a great team effort today."

Junior goalkeeper Tomas Lapnas, making his first start of the season, then preserved the win only a couple minutes later. With 75 seconds left, he jumped up and punched a long strike from the Buccaneers' Ben Holt over the crossbar. The Patriots snuffed out the ensuing corner kick and regained possession.

That's when Mason added a very late insurance goal. Mingachos received the ball and dribbled to the far corner in ETSU territory to run out the clock. He turned as time dwindled, though, and headed toward the goal. He passed off to Dirks, who slid in a goal just inside the far post right before the horn sounded. It was the second goal of the game for Dirks, who also scored in the 42nd minute, and his team-high sixth of the season.

"We showed great character, especially coming back after losing to West Virginia (on Saturday)," Mingachos said. "We've given up late goals the past four games. And scoring that late goal today I made sure we would not give up another late goal. I did whatever I could to keep the win and see the game out."

The Patriots had allowed a goal in the final10 minutes of regulation in each of their last four games. All four of them either tied the game or turned out to be the game winner. On Saturday against West Virginia, Mason led 2-1 before the Mountaineers scored in the 89th minute and then won the game less than two minutes into overtime.

"Emotionally, I think it is very important for the guys to gain some confidence," head coach Greg Andrulis said. "I don't think there is any doubt we can feel like we can score. We are in the top 10 in the country in goals per game. Tonight, the difference was we had a big save at the end of the game by Tome to keep it at (a one-goal advantage). We're still disappointed we didn't get the shutout but you got to give the guys a lot of credit. There is something special here with their mentality and the comebacks after game after game after game. If we can just sort out the defensive leaks a little bit we'll be in good shape."

Wednesday's game marked the sixth time this season the Patriots have scored at least two goals in a game – and third where they've scored three or more. Mason entered the game tied for 10th in the nation with 2.33 goals a game.

Lapnas made two saves as ETSU placed only three of its 11 shots on goal. It was Lapnas' fourth career start but first of the season as freshman Corey Chambers had started the six previous games.

"He's very good; he played a lot last year," Andrulis said of Lapnas. "Corey won the job in the preseason and early games... We've always thought we had a 1 and 1A. It's not like anything major separates them. They're different. They play different. They communicate different. They are both very good. We're lucky to have two very, very good goalkeepers. But Tome did give us a spark and he did make a good save. He has to get cleaner. Corey has to get cleaner. They both have work to do. It is going to be a good battle for them the rest of the season."

The Patriots wrap up non-conference play at 7 p.m. on Saturday against Longwood in Farmville, Virginia.