Oakland, Pa. -- The George Mason women's lacrosse team was
outscored by Pittsburgh, 6-2, in the third quarter as the Panthers broke open a two-goal lead to defeat the Patriots, 13-8, Tuesday evening at Highmark Stadium in Oakland, Pa.
Grad student
Olivia O'Brien broke the school record for most draw controls in a season with a game-high 11 tonight as Mason won the draw battle, 20-15. O'Brien has 99 this season, eclipsing Hannah Warpinski's 95 draw controls set in 2017.
Shannon Tuozzo led the patriots with four points (3/1), including a hat trick.
Morgan Gunn added two goals, one assist and three ground balls.
Mason's
Shannon Tuozzo opened the scoring at the 9:41 mark before Pitt's Maureen McNierney tied the contest 1-1 with 4:44 remaining in the opening quarter. The Panthers Ava Washington added a woman-up goal with 14.9 seconds remaining to send Pitt into the quarter break with a 2-1 advantage.
Morgan Gunn tied the game up at 2-2 with a free position goal for Mason at the 11:17 mark, but Pitt responded with two quick goals in the next two minutes to push the Panther lead to 4-2.
Tuozzo scored her second goal of the game with 7:54 left in the half to cut the lead to a goal, 4-3. Pitt would add one more goal in the half at the 3:30 mark after picking up a ground ball off the only failed clear by the Patriots in the match in 20 attempts.
The Panthers broke open the scoring in the third quarter with five of the next six goals of the match and a six goal lead, 10-4. After two consecutive goals by Pitt, Gunn scored a free position goal at the 7:40 mark but the Panthers countered with three consecutive goals. Tuozzo scored her third goal of the game for the Patriots with just 23 seconds remaining in the third quarter to trim the Pitt lead to 10-5, but Pitt countered quickly with a goal with just 5.6 second remaining.
With two goals to begin the fourth stanza, Pitt extended its lead to 13-5, its biggest of the match. The Patriots ended the match with three consecutive goals.
Mason will finish up the regular season at home on Saturday against No. 19 Richmond at 1 p.m. The Patriots will celebrate its six seniors prior to the match.
