Women's Lacrosse | 3/8/2019 11:19:00 AM

WHO: George Mason at Iona
WHEN: Saturday, 1 p.m.
WHERE: Mazzella Field, New Rochelle, N.Y.
RECORDS: Mason (3-3, 0-0 Atlantic 10); Iona (0-6, 0-0 MAAC)
SERIES RECORD: Mason leads 2-0
LAST MEETING: Mason defeated Iona 21-6 on March 21, 2009 in Fairfax, Va.
LIVE STATS: Click Here

SCOUTING IONA
The Gaels (0-6) are still looking for their first victory of the season. Iona has yet to score more than eight goals in a game this season and is coming off a 15-8 road loss at UMass Lowell last Saturday. The Gaels are led by freshman Leah Marshall (eight goals) and sophomore Sara Stewart (six goals). 
 
SERIES HISTORY
Mason leads the all-time series 2-0. The teams last faced off on March 21, 2009, with the Patriots winning 21-6 in Fairfax. 

BALSAMA NAMED ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Freshman Deanna Balsama was named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week on Monday for the third time this season. The attacker from Sewell, N.J., scored seven goals, dished out three assists and recorded 10 points in a pair of wins last week. She scored a career-high four goals on five shots in a 17-10 victory over Canisius on Sunday in the Patriots' home opener at George Mason Stadium. Through five games she leads the team in goals (15), assists (eight) and points (23).

LAST TIME OUT
The Patriots suffered a 20-9 loss at No. 6 Virginia on Wednesday in Charlottesville. Mason hung tight for the opening 20 minutes, leading on two occasions, before the Cavaliers pulled away to take a six-goal lead into halftime. Senior Chachi Kelehan and junior Hailey Johnson each recorded hat tricks. Freshman Deanna Balsama also added a goal and two assists and sophomore Erin Donoghue won nine draw controls. Junior goalkeeper Melissa Semkiw made 13 saves on 45 shots faced. 
 
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.