• Freshman forward Emma van der Vorst netted her fifth game-winning goal of the season.
• Goalkeeper Morgan Symmers made three saves to earn her ninth win.
• The Patriots have won three straight games, all by shutout.

Box score

RICHMOND, Va. – Mason freshman forward Emma van der Vorst scored for the fourth straight match, while redshirt junior goalkeeper Morgan Symmers won her ninth game of the season in a 2-0 victory over Richmond on Sunday afternoon at Robins Stadium in Richmond, Va.

Mason (11-5-0, 6-2-0 A-10, 18 Pts.) took the lead over Richmond (1-14-1, 1-6-1 A-10, 4 Pts.) early in the first half and never looked back.

After senior forward Nia Elbeck drew a foul in the penalty area, van der Vorst converted her third penalty kick of the season to put the Patriots in front of the Spiders 1-0. 

"We have a lot of confidence that she is going to be able to score when she steps up with the ball on the penalty spot," Mason head coach Todd Bramble said.  "What I'm even more pleased with is how that play came about.  Nia got into the penalty area and earned a penalty kick for our team and it's nice to have somebody like Emma that's going to step up.  We have a lot of confidence that she's going to bury that."

The Patriots scored the first goal for the 11th straight game.

Emma van der Vorst continues to lead the league in goals (12) and points (27) and is tied for first in the conference in game-winners (5).  She has scored a goal in 12 of the last 13 games and has registered at least one point in 13 consecutive contests.

In the 35th minute, the Spiders scored an own goal to increase the Mason advantage to 2-0.

With a mark of 5-3-0 away from home, the Patriots are guaranteed a winning road record during the regular season. 

Mason finished with a 12-9 edge in shots, including an 11-3 advantage in shots on goal.  The Patriots had eight corner kicks and the Spiders had five in the game.

Emma van der Vorst led all players with three shots on goal, while Mason graduate student Jewel Christian took two shots on goal in the match.

Symmers (9-3-0, 1.24 GAA) made three saves in the game, including a diving stop on a one-on-one with just over five minutes to play in the second half.  She has a 4-1-0 record against A-10 opponents, with three of the wins by shutout.  Symmers is tied for the fourth-most wins in the conference (9).

The Patriots have won three straight games and five of the last six, with all five victories by shutout.  Mason goalkeepers haven't allowed a goal over the last 275:35 of play.

"You can't discount the incredible job that the back line is doing and Morgan was great today.  "She made two big-time saves for us, one in the first half and then another one late in the game to preserve that shutout."

Richmond freshman goalkeeper Emily Wigg made a season-high eight saves in the match.

The Patriots play their final road game of the regular season when they take on La Salle on Thursday with the kickoff scheduled for at 7 p.m. in Philadelphia, Pa.