FAIRFAX, Va. – Freshman Deanna Balsama scored her first collegiate game-winner to lift George Mason to a huge win in the Atlantic 10 opener.

Balsama scored just a minute into sudden-death overtime on an assist by junior Hailey Johnson as the Patriots knocked off defending A-10 champ Richmond 9-8 on Friday night at George Mason Stadium. 

Sophomore Erin Donoghue also scored four goals and junior Melissa Semkiw made 13 saves while allowing just eight goals on 34 shots faced. 

After waiting out a 90-minute lightning delay that pushed back the start of the game, the teams battled blustery, windy conditions. Mason (5-4, 1-0 A-10) led by five goals in the second half but went scoreless the final 21 minutes of regulation. The Spiders, who entered on a six-game winning streak and were the preseason favorite to win the conference title again, battled back with five straight goals to tie the game with 2:16 left.

The Spiders (7-2, 0-1) forced a turnover and had a chance to win in regulation. But Semkiw came up with a huge stop with just eight seconds left in regulation to force overtime. 
Balsama won the opening draw of overtime and moved the ball into Richmond's side of the field. The Patriots worked the clock, trying to set up the game-winning play. Johnson flipped a pass to Balsama, who ripped a shot from eight yards away and past Spiders goalie Megan Gianforte just 67 seconds into the extra period.

Balsama, an attacker from Sewell, N.J., finished the game with two goals and a career-high tying three assists. She also set a career high with nine draw controls. With sophomore Abby Folker in the center, the Patriots dominated with a 14-5 edge in draw controls.

Folker, sophomore Christiana Romano and senior Chachi Kelehan also scored. Kelehan added an assist but had to leave the game with more than 17 minutes left after she picked up her second yellow card.

The Patriots continue their two-game homestand against La Salle at noon on Sunday at George Mason Stadium.