Fairfax, Va. – A late offensive surge late by East Carolina doomed the George Mason women's lacrosse team as the visiting Pirates (4-0) defeated the Patriots (0-4), 16-10, on a windy night at George Mason Stadium.  
 
The match was tied up at 10-10 in the first-ever meeting between the Pirates and Patriots when ECU strung together six straight goals to end the contest. Six of the Pirates goals were in a man-up situation, including three of their last four goals.
 
Mason's Ioanna Mantzouratos lead the team with four points (3/1), two of the goals in the first period, including a buzzer-beater. Shannon Tuozzo, Morgan Gunn, and Olivia O'Brien each had two goals. Lauren Distad had two points (1/1).
 
The Pirates outshot the Patriots, 44-33. Mason earned a 16-10 edge in ground balls, including a game-high four ground balls Olivia Heaton and Shannon Tuozzo.
 
The Patriots goalkeeper Fiona Rickles had 15 saves.
 
Mason was up early, 2-0 to begin the game, but ECU responded to take an early, 3-2 lead halfway through the first. The Patriots then took control offensively and rattle off five straight goals to lead 7-3 early in the second period. The Pirates had a run of their own to level the score, 7-7 with 6:09 left in the half. The score was 8-8 at the intermission.
 
East Carolina made a goalkeeper change at the half inserting Sophie Bandorick into the line-up for starter Brynn Knight. The two teams alternated scoring goals in the third period and with 4:48 left in the stanza the score was tied at 10 apiece. That was the final goal for Mason as ECU ripped off six-straight to earn the win.
 
Mason will travel across the Potomac River on March 2 for a Wednesday afternoon match with the Howard Bison. Match begins at 3 p.m. on the Washington, D.C. campus.