Box score (PDF)
 
FAIRFAX, Va. – Sophomore midfielder Asparuh Slavov netted a pair of goals and the Patriots scored three times in the second half in a 4-2 victory over Rhode Island on Wednesday night at George Mason Stadium.
 
Mason improved to 5-0-0 all-time at home against Rhode Island (1-0 Sept. 8, 2000 / 2-1 Nov. 1, 2013 / 2-1 Nov. 7, 2015 / 2-0 Oct. 31, 2018 / 4-2 Oct. 4, 2023).
 
Mason (2-5-2, 1-3-0 A-10) took the lead over Rhode Island (2-5-3, 0-3-1 A-10) in the 11th minute of play. 
 
Junior forward Souley Diouf was fouled in the penalty area and converted the penalty kick into the lower right corner of the net for his team-leading fourth goal of the season to put the Patriots in front, 1-0.
 
Rhode Island had a chance to tie the match in the 19th minute, but Patriots senior defender Noah McGrath blocked a shot on the goal line to turn the Rams away.
 
Rhode Island scored the equalizer on a penalty kick in the 30th minute.  Rams junior forward Brandon Bermingham found the lower right corner of the net for his first goal of the season to tie the match, 1-1.
 
Slavov put to Patriots in in front for good with two goals in a span of six minutes early in the second half.
 
In the 51st minute, freshman midfielder Brent Fields took advantage of a turnover and chipped the ball ahead to Slavov, who put the perfect shot past the lunging goalkeeper and into the lower left corner from 10 yards out to vault the Patriots back in front, 2-1.
 
In the 57th minute, Slavov was fouled in the penalty area and converted the eventual game-winner with a low shot into right corner of the net to make it 3-1.
 
Mason graduate student midfielder Luis Maestre then scored his first goal as a Patriot on a free kick from 28 yards out with a blast into the upper left corner in the 74th minute to increase the advantage to 4-1.
 
In the 84th minute, Rhode Island sophomore forward Mathias Taylor scored a late goal, his second goal of the season from 15 yards out.

Mason junior goalkeeper Jaume Salvado (2-5-2) made five saves including three in the second half.  Rhode Island junior goalkeeper Edu Rodriguez made two saves in the match.
  
HOW THEY SCORED
 
11' | Diouf converted a penalty kick with a right foot into the lower right corner.
30' | Bermingham converted a penalty kick into the lower right corner.
51' | Slavov scored with a right foot into the lower left corner from 10 yards out.
74' | Maestre scored with a right foot off a set piece into the upper left corner from 28 yards.
84' | Taylor scored from 15 yards out into the lower center of the net.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

The Rams outshot the Patriots, 14-10, including a 7-6 advantage in shots on goal.  Rhode Island finished with nine corner kicks, while Mason had two corner kicks in the match.
 
Slavov (68 minutes) led all players with three shots on goal.  Diouf (21 minutes) and Maestre (90 minutes) each scored on their lone shot on goal in the match.  Fields (68 minutes) registered one shot and picked up his second assist of the season.
 
Senior midfielder Henry Wachsman, junior defender Javi Sanchez, sophomore defender Will Carson and Maestre each played 90 minutes in the match.
 
NEXT FOR MASON
 
The Patriots are back on the road this Saturday when the travel to take on Duquesne with the opening kick scheduled for 7 p.m. at Rooney Field in Pittsburgh, Pa.