FAIRFAX, Va. – After a frustrating non-conference slate, the George Mason men's soccer team looked at the beginning of Atlantic 10 play as a fresh start.  

The Patriots wiped the slate clean and jumped all over their Revolutionary Rival in a 3-0 rout of George Washington in their league opener on Wednesday night at George Mason Stadium. Tunde Akinlosotu, Tolu Ibikunle and Grant Robinson each scored and goalkeeper Clark Gronek and the Patriots' defense registered their second shutout in three games.

Mason (3-4, 1-0 A-10) won its A-10 opener for the first time in five years, snapped a three-game losing streak against the Colonials and recorded its first conference win since Nov. 7, 2015.

"Getting a conference win at home, we didn't think it would be so long in between, but this is a good group," head coach Greg Andrulis said. "They worked really hard tonight. It was a well-deserved win and it was a very good performance. It is so important in the conference to get off to a good start… I'm thrilled for the guys. They needed it. It was good to see them smile at home and bounce back from a disappointing performance Saturday night (in a non-conference loss to Appalachian State) and put a good performance in the conference. 

"It is a new season. Hopefully we can build off this and continue to play at this high level."

The Patriots didn't take long to jump in front. In the seventh minute, sophomore Colin Brezniak sent a long pass out of the Patriots' half of the field and nearly into the penalty box more than 40 yards away. Akinlosotu got behind the Colonials' defense, corralled the ball in the box, dribbled to the left side and flicked a shot from six yards out over GW goalkeeper Thor Arne Höfs. It was the team-leading fourth goal of the season for Akinlosotu, a junior forward.

Mason added insurance late in the second half. Ibikunle, a redshirt senior, bobbed and weaved through five Colonial defenders before booting a shot from eight yards away off Arne Höfs' mitt and into the net.

"I checked my shoulders, I went and turned and I just saw space," Ibikunle said. "Honestly, I just went. I didn't look back. I just took them."

Added Andrulis: "It was a very good, transitional, counter-attack goal. Those are the things he can do. He is dangerous one-on-one. He's strong, he's fast – and he's healthy, finally, which is a bonus for us and for him. I'm happy for him because he's worked hard for that moment."

Coming out of halftime with 2-0 lead, the Patriots came up with a big stop early in the second half to prevent George Washington (4-5-1, 0-2) from gaining any momentum. 

On a free kick in the 57th minute, George Washington's Gabriel Seemungal jumped up for a header that got over the outstretched arm of Gronek. But Mason defender Ato Williams, a 5-foot-9 junior college transfer, came off the goal line and headed the ball away. Seemungal got his foot on the rebound but the shot knocked into a GW teammate and rolled out of play.

"I know as a defender, when your keeper goes up, you have to go up and cover," Williams said. "When I saw Clark going up, an attacker went up and headed it so I said, 'OK, it's coming to me.' So I just took it off the line. I think that changed the entire game because it would have been a different game if that would have happened."

"It makes a big difference," Andrulis said of the team save. "(Williams) was in the right place in the right time. He has been the last couple games for us. He makes a difference back there for us with his pace and intensity."

Robinson all but locked up the victory in the 74th minute with his second goal of the season. After a cross from junior Pablo Pertusa, fellow junior Ryan Mingachos laid off a pass with the back of his right foot to Robinson near the top of the box. The junior forward took one touch and then delivered a rocket with his left foot into the left corner.

Gronek made four saves for his second career shutout and notched his third win in just five starts – all in the last five games. 

The Patriots will look to build off their conference-opening win as they play defending A-10 champ Massachusetts at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Amherst, Mass. 

"It may just be a first win but it feels like turning a corner in a sense for us," Robinson said. "It is a big confidence builder for us – definitely. It is amazing feeling to get the first one down. Just looking for more."