Women's Lacrosse | 3/21/2019 11:38:00 PM

WHO: George Mason vs. Richmond
WHEN: Friday, 4 p.m.
WHERE: George Mason Stadium, Fairfax, Va.
RECORDS: Mason (4-4, 0-0 Atlantic 10); Richmond (7-1, 0-0 Atlantic 10)
SERIES RECORD: Mason leads 8-7
LAST MEETING: Richmond defeated Mason 18-11 on April 15, 2018 in Richmond, Va.
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A-10 OPENER
Both teams begin Atlantic 10 play on Friday. Richmond shared the Atlantic 10 regular-season title last year and captured the conference tournament championship to advance to the NCAA Tournament. The Spiders were picked to repeat as A-10 champs in the preseason coaches poll. Mason was projected to finish fifth after tying for fourth last season and reaching the conference tournament for the fourth straight year.

SCOUTING RICHMOND
The Spiders (7-1) have won six straight and 16 of their last 18 regular-season games. Their lone loss this season was a 19-5 setback to then-No. 12 Virginia on Feb. 21. Senior Mia Castagnero leads the league with 23 goals while Marissa Brown is tied for second in assists (14).
 
SERIES HISTORY
Mason holds an 8-7 edge in the all-time series. The Spiders have won the last two meetings, including an 18-11 victory in Richmond last April.

LAST TIME OUT
Senior Chachi Kelehan scored all four of her goals in the first half to lead the Patriots in a 16-8 loss at Delaware in their final non-conference test on March 13. Mason went scoreless in the second half, failing to hold a five-goal lead.

SEASON PROSPECTUS
The Patriots return seven starters and 18 letterwinners from a 2018 team that went 11-7, finished fourth in the Atlantic 10 and reached the conference tournament for the fourth straight year. A-10 Rookie of the Year Erin Donoghue returns after a breakthrough season in which she became the first Mason freshman to earn All-Conference First Team honors. The midfielder ranked second on the team in goals (44), points (51), draw controls (86) and ground balls (29). Senior Chachi Kelehan earned Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team honors, leading the team with 52 goals last year and set the single-season school record with 76 points.

TEAM CAPTAINS
Seniors Chachi Kelehan and Rachel Woods were chosen as team captains before the season. Kelehan, an attacker from Ellicott City, Md., ranked third at Mason heading into this season in all-time points (179), fourth in goals (127) and sixth in assists (52). Woods, a defender from Longmeadow, Mass., is a three-year starter who ranked third on the team last year with 14 caused turnovers.