GEORGE MASON (1-10-0, 1-2-0) vs. SAINT LOUIS (7-2-2, 2-0-1)
WHEN: Thursday, September 28, @ 7 p.m.
WHERE: Fairfax, Va. | George Mason Stadium
WATCH: ESPN+ or International Stream
LIVE STATS: Click Here
GAME PROGRAM: Click Here
HISTORY: Saint Louis leads the all-time series 4-3-1 | Last played each other on Oct. 2, 2022, when the Patriots fell to the Billikens 3-0 in St. Louis.

---

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason women's soccer team (1-10-0, 1-2-0 A-10) will host Saint Louis (7-2-2, 2-0-1 A-10) at George Mason Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m. This will be Mason's first home game since their Atlantic 10 home opener against VCU on Sunday, Sept. 17.

TICKETING INFORMATION
Regular season home games for George Mason Women's Soccer will require a ticket for entry. They are available for purchase online in advance, calling the Athletic Ticket Office at 703-993-3270, or by purchasing at the George Mason Stadium Gate. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth 12 and under. Discounted rates are available for groups of 10 or more as well as George Mason faculty and staff. More information on Women's Soccer tickets can be found here.

LAST TIME OUT
The Patriots had their game rained out due to Tropical Storm Ophelia last Sunday at Saint Joseph's. Before the game was called, Mason was down 1-0 off a Hawk penalty kick. However, their rescheduled game slated for Wednesday,  Oct. 4, will be replayed in its entirety, so stats from Sunday's game will not count.

Because of Sunday's rain out, the Patriots will be coming into Thursday's match having won their last game. Mason won their first game of the season last Thursday at Richmond by the score of 1-0. It snapped Mason's 25-game winless streak, with their last win being from last season on Aug. 25, 2022. It was also Mason's first shutout victory since Oct. 10, 2021, and their first shutout road win since Oct. 13, 2019.

In the 24^th minute, the Patriots found the back of the net, thanks to quick passing by Rachel Eberly and Michi Hooks and the finishing touch by Ashley Shimberg. Richmond cleared the ball out of their penalty box, where Rachel Eberly was able to recollect the ball and pass it to Michi Hooks on the right wing. Hooks then took one dribble and crossed the ball from the top corner of the penalty box to the left far post, where an unmarked Ashely Shimberg was there to take the left-footed one-timer right on the corner of the six-yard box. The Richmond goalkeeper was moving to her right while the ball zipped past her left leg and into the back of the net.

It was Ashley Shimberg's first goal of the season and Rachel Eberly's first assist of the season. Michi Hooks recorded her first career assist as well.

The Patriots took the 1-0 lead into the half and kept the pressure up for the remainder of the game.

Freshman goalkeeper Ginny Fronk secured her first career shutout as well. She continues to lead the A-10 in saves (67) and is second in saves per game (6.09).

SCOUTING SAINT LOUIS
The Billikens are coming into Fairfax on a six-game unbeaten streak dating back to Sept. 2. In that stretch, they beat SIUE 5-1, #24 Nebraska 3-2, Loyola Chicago 1-0 and La Salle 4-0. On Sept. 6, they tied Brown 1-1, and in their most recent game on Sept. 24, they tied Dayton 1-1.

Saint Louis' only two losses on the season have been against nationally ranked opponents. The Billikens lost their season opener to #13 Brigham Young 3-2 and later lost to #25 Xavier 1-0 on Aug. 31.

In the preseason, Saint Louis was ranked #21 according to the United Coaches Top 25 Poll. They have also been nationally ranked during the course of the 2023 season, as they were #23 in Week 2 and #24 in Week 4. Though they are not currently in the top 25, they have received votes in every week of the season so far.

In the A-10, Saint Louis has started their conference schedule unbeaten, as they are currently 2-0-1.

Out of the 15 teams in the A-10 standings, the Billikens are currently placed in fourth. The Patriots, on the other hand, are in eleventh.

The Billikens have scored a conference-leading 31 total goals on the season. There are 14 different players that have scored at least one goal and nine players with at least two.

Forwards Emily Gaebe and Caroline Kelly share the team lead and are tied for second in the A-10 in goals with five. Gaeb's two assists on the season gives the junior a team-leading 12 points on the year. Gaeb also leads the A-10 in shots (36) and shots on goal (21).

Saint Louis also leads the A-10 in assists with 24. Redshirt junior midfielder/forward Hannah Larson is the main facilitator, as she leads both the Billikens and the A-10 in assists with six.

Senior Emily Puricelli has been the primary goalkeeper for Saint Louis, as she has a 7-2-2 record on the season. The St. Louis, Mo., native has recorded three shutouts, which were wins against Utah State (Aug. 20, 2-0), Kansas City (Aug. 27, 8-0) and Loyola Chicago (Sept. 14, 1-0). In the A-10, Puricelli is fourth in save percentage (.846) and saves per game (5.00), fifth in goals against average (.938) and ninth in shutouts per game (.333).

Both Puricelli and graduate student midfielder Abbie Miller have been awarded A-10 weekly awards, both in the same week of Sept. 13.

HISTORY WITH THE BILLIKENS

Mason has played against Saint Louis eight times. Their first meeting was on October 6, 2013, when the Patriots won 1-0 in Fairfax. They last played each other last season on Oct. 2, 2022, in St. Louis, when the #11 Billikens won 3-0. 

The record between the two remains tight. Saint Louis has the slight edge over Mason with a 4-3-1 record. 

The last time the Billikens played in Fairfax was  on Oct. 17, 2021, when they won 2-0.

UP NEXT
The Patriots will host their second game of the week this Sunday Oct. 1, as Rhode Island will come to Fairfax. Sunday's game will also be the team's Morgan's Message Dedication Game. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. and can be watched on ESPN+.