WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The George Mason women's lacrosse team fell to Monmouth on the road on Friday, 18-9, despite five points from senior Shannon Tuozzo.
 
Tuozzo notched her fifth hat trick in a Mason uniform to go along with a game high two assists. She also added two draw controls and a ground ball to her stat line.
 
The Hawks' (1-0) defense came out strong as was able to hold Mason scoreless in the first quarter to take a 4-0 lead after 15 minutes. After they scored two more to open the second, Mason was able to get on the board compliments of freshman Kaitlyn Bestick's first collegiate goal. Senior Morgan Gunn then converted a free position attempt with 12 seconds remaining in the half as Mason trailed 6-2 at the break.
 
It was another Monmouth run to open the second half, but the Patriots (0-1) leaned on Tuozzo for two-straight tallies as she assisted Gunn and then buried one of her own just over a minute later. 
 
Sophomore Lauren Distad found senior Chloe Reed in the middle of the third quarter to pull within five, but another three-goal run by Monmouth gave it a seven-goal lead at the end of the stanza.
 
Tuozzo completed her hat trick with 11:33 remaining in the game and Bestick and Distad scored fourth-quarter goals of their own, but another few goals by the Hawks in the quarter held off the Patriots to provide the final tally.
 
PATRIOT POINTS

• Senior Meghan Deehan played all 60 minutes in goal for the Patriots, making nine saves
• Gunn led Mason with four draw controls to go along with her two goals, a ground ball and a caused turnover
• Reed and junior Melanie Hutchinson both also contributed three draw controls 
• Mason won the draw control battle, 16-15
• The Patriots were successful on their clears, going 16-17 throughout the afternoon

 
UP NEXT
The Patriots will return to Fairfax to host Longwood on Wednesday, Feb. 15 for their home opener. Opening draw is set for 4 p.m. at George Mason Stadium.