George Mason (0-0, 0-0 A-10) vs. Monmouth (0-0, 0-0 CAA)
WHEN: Friday, 2 p.m.
WHERE: Kessler Stadium; West Long Branch, N.J.
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE VIDEO: FloSports $
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason women's lacrosse team will open the 2023 season on the road on Friday, Feb. 10, in West Long Branch, N.J. to take on the Hawks of Monmouth.
It will be the opening game for both teams, and the fourth all-time meeting between the Patriots and the Hawks. Mason has won all three previous meetings with the last one coming on Feb. 21, 2018 in New Jersey, when the Patriots came home with a 17-14 win.
The Patriots return 12 letter winners from last year's squad and welcome 10 newcomers, including seven freshman and three transfers. Head coach
Kara Mupo enters her third year at the helm with the assistance of
Lyndsey Munoz and first-season assistant
Nate Medic.
In season openers, Mason is 10-19 overall and just 4-15 on the road. However, the last season-opening road win was at Monmouth in 2018. The Patriots are opening the season on the road for the third-straight year.
PATRIOT POINTS
- The Patriots were picked to finish eighth overall in the Atlantic 10, announced by the league a week ago.
- Mason welcomes three transfers to its' roster, graduate student Makayla Hutchinson from Central Connecticut State, senior Ciara Curtis from A-10 member Duquesne and junior Kate Elam from Pittsburgh.
- Senior Shannon Tuozzo, who led the Patriots in goals, assists and points a year ago, returns as a senior leader on the midfield unit.
- Senior goalkeeper Meghan Deehan also returns to the Patriots, appearing in 16 games with 11 starts a season ago.
- Sophomore Lauren Distad and senior Morgan Gunn return to the field as the second-leading returning scorers from a season ago. The two put up identical numbers with 18 goals, seven assists and 25 points in 2022.
SCOUTING THE HAWKS
A season ago, Monmouth finished at a mark of 12-7 and went 6-2 in MAAC action. The Hawks advanced to the title game but ultimately fell 14-11 to Fairfield. In 2023 however, Monmouth begins conference play in the Colonial Athletic Conference, where it was picked to finish sixth out of eight teams after earning 21 points.
Three Hawks earned preseason recognition, including two on the All-CAA squad and one on the All-CAA honorable mention list. Cassidy Orban returns as a top producer for the Hawks. The 2022 MAAC Midfielder of the Year and First Team All-MAAC honoree set a single-season school record with 123 draw controls while contributing 50 points and eight hat tricks.
Caroline Brennan earned First Team All-MAAC, MAAC All-Rookie and MAAC All-Tournament honors after leading the team with 66 points on 46 goals and 20 assists. Brianna Falco earned an All-CAA honorable mention nod as a defender who led the team with 47 ground balls and contributed 75 draw controls and 21 caused turnovers.
UP NEXT
The Patriots will open the home portion of their schedule on Wednesday, Feb. 15 when they welcome Longwood to Fairfax. Opening draw is schedule for 4 p.m. on ESPN+.
