RICHMOND, Va. – The George Mason University women's soccer team tied to in-state rival Virginia Commonwealth in their final game of the season by the score of 3-3. The Patriots finish the 2022 season with a 1-10-7 overall record and a 0-5-5 Atlantic 10 Conference record.

HOW THEY SCORED
GEORGE MASON
29' | Ashley Shimberg (2) off a free kick
65' | Sophie Davidson (2), assisted by Ashley Shimberg (1)
69' | Sophie Davidson (3)

VCU
8' | Kanna Matsuhisa (4)
80" | Aisha Maughan (3) off a penalty kick
89' | Anna Bagley (3) off a free kick

In what was the highest combined scoring game for either school this season, there was wire-to-wire action. VCU forward Kanna Matsuhisa started the scoring affair in the 8^th minute when the ball landed to her feet after a Ram cross was not clearly headed away by the Patriot defense. She took the ball inside the six-yard box and kicked it into the far right side of the net.

The Patriots were able to respond 20 minutes later when VCU committed a hard foul outside the right side penalty box. Junior forward Ashley Shimberg was elected to take the free kick, and with her left foot, she lifted the ball over the Patriots and Rams crowded in the box. The ball dipped under the top left corner of the cross bar and safely into the back of the net. With that game-tying goal, Shimberg netted her second goal of the season and scored in her second consecutive game.

The Patriots and Rams would go into the half knotted up at 1-1.

It would take 20 minutes in the second half for the Patriots to score again, when a blocked shot by junior forward Shea Carroll lead to a contested loose ball between Ashley Shimberg the Rams goalkeeper Whitney Horton. After Shimberg's running kick was blocked by the diving Horton, the ball bounced to freshman forward Sophie Davidson just left of the penalty kick spot. Davidson took a right-footed one-timer aimed to the right side of the goal which got through the keeper's second-effort save attempt and two other defenders protecting the goal line. The net bulged and the Patriots took a 2-1 lead. This was Sophie Davidson's second goal of the season.

It would not take long for the freshman forward to get her third goal of the season and second goal of the afternoon. Just four minutes later, Ashley Shimberg was in a breakaway that started from midfield. Her slaloming run evaded the backpedaling Rams defense and left her in a one-on-one situation against the goalkeeper Horton. Shimberg's last dribble proved to be too heavy as she could not reach to it in time to set up for a kick, but VCU's rushing keeper could not chorale it as well. Trailing behind Shimberg on the left was Sophie Davidson, who chipped the ball into the empty net with her left foot. The Patriots held a 3-1 lead with 21 minutes remaining in the season.

With 10 minutes left, the Rams caught a break, as a penalty was called on the Patriots for a handball. VCU's junior midfielder Aisha Maughan took the kick and aimed for the bottom right corner of the goal. Freshman goalkeeper Selamawit Caldart had guessed right, but could not reach to the spot in time. With the successful penalty, the Rams halved the deficit.

With one minute remaining in the game, another Patriot foul set up a free kick situation for the Rams. From over 30 yards out, redshirt junior midfielder Anna Bagley scored the equalizer. Her goal flew to the top right corner, just missing the outstretched arms of the diving Selamawit Caldart. The game would end in a 3-3 tie and both teams would recieve a point in their final games of the season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Mason scored tied their season record for most goals scored in one game
• Sophie Davidson scored the team's first multi-goal game and is now tied with Zoë Vidaurre with most goals on the team
• Ashley Shimberg is the first Patriot this season to score in consecutive games
• Selamawit Caldart recorded six saves compared to VCU's zero

Head coach Manya Puppione was proud to see how the Patriots finished strong in their last game.

"I'm really proud of my team in how they showed up today, especially when there was nothing on the line but the statement we wanted to make to end our season," said Coach Puppione. " We played our best soccer and dominated a good amount of the game, especially when we had a 3-1 lead in the second half. Our goals came from sticking to our game plan, putting in the extra effort and playing for each other. We took forward strides together in the direction we are going as a program."

Coach Puppione also took the time to thank her seniors of the squad for what they have done throughout their Mason careers.

"Thank you to our seniors Kolbrun Eyjolfsdottir, Kaitlyn Butcher and Jester Hutchison for the positive mark they have made for this team."