WHEN: Wednesday, 5 p.m.
WHERE: Klockner Stadium - Charlottesville, Va.
RECORDS: Mason (1-3, 0-0 A-10), #8 Virginia (4-0, 2-0 ACC)
LAST MEETING: #8 Virginia def. Mason, 14-8, on March 4, 2020
LIVE VIDEO: ACC Network Extra
LIVE STATS: Click here

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University women's lacrosse team plays its fifth-consecutive road game to open 2021 Wednesday when the Patriots take on No. 8 Virginia in Charlottesville.  
 
First draw at Klockner Stadium is set for 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra, with streaming audio also available via StatBroadcast. 
 
LAST TIME OUT 
Mason picked up the first career win for new head coach Kara Mupo with a resilient 11-10 triumph at Radford on Saturday. Seven Patriots scored at least one goal in a solid all-around effort by the attacking unit. Junior Phoebe Nelson notched her first career hat trick while adding a ground ball on the day. Senior Erin Donoghue returned to match Nelson with a three-goal performance. She also picked up a team-best three draw controls and three ground balls while causing two turnovers in a strong all-around performance. 
 
DONOHUE STEPS UP IN THE CAGE 
Freshman goalkeeper Mason Donohue played the best game of their young career in Saturday's win, as she faced 23 shots on goal and saved a personal-best 13 of them to post an impressive .565 save percentage and notch their first collegiate win. Donohue has played 180 of a possible 240 minutes in goal this season for Mason and has tallied 6.3 saves/game.  
 
HISTORY vs. VIRGINIA 
Wednesday's contest marks the 16th all-time meeting between George Mason and Virginia in women's lacrosse. UVa holds a 15-0 edge in the series. In the most recent meeting, the 12^th-ranked Cavaliers earned a 14-8 victory on March 4, 2020. Mason led 8-6 in the second half and was knotted at eight with the Cavaliers at the 22:45 mark. But the Patriots would not be able to find the back of the net for the rest of the contest. Deanna Balsama led the Patriots with four points on three goals and an assist. She also tallied three draw controls on the day. 
 
A LOOK AT THE #8 CAVALIERS (4-0, 2-0 ACC) 
Virginia was picked to finish fourth out of eight teams in the powerhouse ACC. In Monday's IWLCA Top-25 poll, three of four teams in the top-4 come from the league. Right behind them are the eighth-ranked Cavaliers, who are coming off a 13-12 conference win over No. 25 Louisville. UVa also holds wins over ranked opponents No. 10 Richmond (15-9) and No. 16 Virginia Tech (12-10). All-ACC selection Ashlyn McGovern leads Virginia with 11 goals on the year, while Annie Dyson has tallied a team-high 12 points (9g, 3a). Mackenzie Hoag leads the team in both draw controls (24) and assists (6). In cage, Charlie Campbell has tallied a 8.46 goals against average and .492 save percentage.  
 
UP NEXT 
Mason takes a 10-day competitive hiatus before opening Atlantic 10 play on Saturday, March 20 with a contest at Revolutionary Rival George Washington. First draw on the Colonials' Mount Vernon campus is scheduled for 3 p.m.