Box Score (PDF)
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University women's lacrosse team picked up its first victory of 2020 with a 20-11 win over William & Mary Saturday afternoon at George Mason Stadium.
The Patriots scored nine of the final 11 goals of the first half in an impressive 25 minutes of play, then never allowed the Tribe to move closer than three (11-8) for the remainder of the contest.
It marked Mason's first 20 goal effort since a 20-6 win over La Salle on March 24 last season.
Mason dominated the draw with a 21-12 advantage in the circle. Sophomore Deanna Balsama fueled that performance, as the Sewell, N.J., product put together a monster 12-draw effort, just one off the school record set by Hannah Warpinski in 2017.
Balsama finished with five points (2g, 3a) on the day and was one of five Patriots who put together spectacular offensive efforts.
Junior Erin Donoghue notched a career-best seven points (6g, 1a) on the day while also contributing four draw controls and three ground balls in an impressive all-around day for the midfielder.
Elsewhere, sophomore Abby Folker set a new career best with five points (4g, 1a) and added three draw controls, while fellow sophomore Phoebe Nelson tied a personal best with four points on two goals and two assists. Senior Hailey Johnson also tied a career high with four goals against the Tribe.
In the cage, senior Melissa Semkiw played well, allowing 11 goals while making 11 saves in a full 60 minutes of work.
Mason led 2-0 early in the contest, before the Tribe tied it up at 2-2. Back-to-back goals from Donoghue and Johnson made it 4-2 and Donoghue's fourth goal in 13 minutes extended the Mason edge to 6-3. With the Patriots ahead 6-4, Mason rattled off the final five goals of the stanza, including back-to-back tallies from Folker, to take an 11-4 edge into the break.
The Tribe rocketed out of the gate in the second half with four-straight goals to make it 11-8 at the 23:07 mark. But from there, the Patriots answered back with a dominant 7-0 run of their own to go up 18-8 with 8:52 left. That surge included two goals from Donoghue, the first career assist for Tristan Usher, and goals for five other Mason players in a strong show of depth by the Green & Gold.
Usher added a goal with 3:49 remaining to give Mason its 20th score of the contest.
The Patriots wrap up their three-game homestand Wednesday with a contest vs. Delaware (4 p.m.) at George Mason Stadium.
