• Freshman forward Emma van der Vorst scored her 10th goal of the season.
• Goalkeepers Louisa Moser and Morgan Symmers combined for Mason's third shutout in the last four games.
• The Patriots scored the first goal for the ninth straight match.

Box score

AMHERST, Mass. – George Mason freshman forward Emma van der Vorst scored the lone goal of the match in the 47th minute, lifting the Patriots to a 1-0 victory over Massachusetts on Sunday afternoon at Rudd Field in Amherst, Mass.

Mason (9-5-0, 4-2-0 A-10) handed UMass (9-3-1, 4-1-1 A-10) its first conference loss of the season. 

The Patriots were pressured by the Minutewomen throughout the first half.  UMass had a 9-2 advantage in shots on goal in the first 45 minutes, but managed just one shot on goal.  The Minutewomen also hit the crossbar in the 37th minute of play.

After the scoreless first half, van der Vorst put the Patriots in front early in the second half.  She took advantage of a turnover by the Minutewomen, blasting a shot off the post and into the net from 18 yards out.

After taking the lead, the Patriots held the Minutewomen to just six shots the rest of the game.

The two teams combined for 42 fouls and seven yellow cards in the match.  UMass picked up six yellow cards, including four in the last four minutes, while Mason received two yellow cards.

UMass finished with a 15-7 advantage in shots, while Mason had a 6-5 edge in shots on goal.  The Patriots had six corner kicks and the Minutewomen had five in the game.

Mason senior forward Nia Elbeck and van der Vorst led all players with two shots on goal.

Emma van der Vorst leads the A-10 in goals (10) and points (23) and is tied for third in the league in game-winners (3).  With the tally on Sunday, she became just the 14th player in the nation to score at least 10 goals this season.

Mason redshirt-junior goalkeeper Morgan Symmers got the start and made one save in the first half.  Sophomore Louisa Moser (2-2-0) played the second half and made two saves to pick up her second win of the season.

The Patriots have posted a shutout in each of their last three victories.

Mason improved to 4-3-0 on the road.  The loss snapped the Minutewomen's nine-game unbeaten streak, which was the longest by UMass since 1997.

The Patriots host Duquesne on Thursday with the kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. at George Mason Stadium.