Women's Lacrosse | 3/28/2019 6:01:00 AM

WHO: George Mason at Massachusetts
WHEN: Friday, 3 p.m.
WHERE: Garber Field, Amherst, Ma.
RECORDS: Mason (6-4, 2-0 Atlantic 10); Massachusetts (7-3, 2-0 Atlantic 10)
SERIES RECORD: Massachusetts leads 6-0
LAST MEETING: Massachusetts defeated Mason 15-8 on April 13, 2018 in Fairfax, Va.
LIVE VIDEO: Click Here
LIVE STATS: Click Here

SCOUTING MASSACHUSETTS
The Minutewomen (7-3, 2-0 A-10) are again off to a strong start and have won six of seven. UMass captured a share of the Atlantic 10 regular-season title last year and was picked to finish second in the league this season in the preseason coaches poll. The Minutewomen are led by senior Kiley Anderson, who ranks seventh in the country in goals (41), 11th in draw controls per game (6.89) and tied for 15th in points (46).
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Patriots have never defeated Massachusetts in six tries – all coming since joining the Atlantic 10 in 2013-14. Mason nearly knocked off the Minutewomen the last time they played in Amherst, Mass., in 2017. The Patriots led 13-9 with less than 20 minutes left before UMass stormed back and regained the lead. After falling behind by three goals late, Mason nearly tied the game up after Hailey Johnson pulled the Patriots within one with 1:56 to go. But UMass hung on despite multiple goals from five Mason players, including hat tricks from Chachi Kelehan and Johnson.

LAST TIME OUT
Mason rolled past La Salle for a 20-6 victory on Sunday at George Mason Stadium. Freshman Deanna Balsama scored a career-high five goals on six shots, won three draw controls and caused a turnover. Eight Mason players scored, with five recording multiple goals, and junior Hailey Johnson and sophomore Abby Folker each notched hat tricks. Mason scored the first nine goals of the game.

A-10 WEEKLY HONORS
On Monday, junior goalkeeper Melissa Semkiw was named A-10 Defensive Player of the Week this season while freshman Deanna Balsama earned her fifth A-10 Rookie of the Week honor. Semkiw helped lead the Patriots to a pair of wins last week against Richmond and La Salle. The native of Frederick, Md., made 13 saves against defending league champ Richmond in a 9-8 overtime victory Friday. She then allowed just two goals and made three saves in 30 minutes against La Salle. Balsama, an attacker from Sewell, N.J., scored two goals and dished out a career-high tying three assists against Richmond. She also scored the game-winner in overtime against the Spiders. On Sunday, she scored a career-high five goals against La Salle.