FAIRFAX, Va. – Game time temperature at George Mason Stadium exceeded 90 degrees, which prompted game officials to call for two hydration breaks throughout each half of Sunday afternoon's game.
The George Mason women's soccer team (0-6-0) lost to Villanova (3-0-2) by the score of 3-0, giving the Wildcats their first win over the Patriots since 2002 as well as their first win in Fairfax since 2001.
George Mason also recognized their
Team IMPACT teammate, Faith, before the start of Sunday afternoon's game. Team representatives
Abby Najdzinowicz,
Eman Karimi,
Rachel Eberly,
Ashley Shimberg,
Dot Tieszen and
Selamawit Caldart gave Faith her own #37 Mason Soccer jersey as well. In attendance with Faith were her parents Geoff and Jessica, younger sister Kayleigh and grandparents Kenny and Marsha Duncan.
HOW THEY SCORED
VILLANOVA
20' | Jackie Richards (2), assisted by Gabby Koluch (1) and Olivia Marrone (1)
53' | Jackie Richards (3), assisted by Susanna Soderman (1)
62' | Alex Little (2), assisted by Susanna Soderman (2)
Villanova's Jackie Richards scored the game's first goal in the 20
th minute of the first half. After
Ginny Fronk made a point-blank save inside the six-yard box, the ball was cleared to Villanova's Olivia Marrone at center circle, who then headed it to Gabby Koluch on the right side of the field. Koluch then lifted the ball to the left post, where Richards headed the ball into the right side of the goal. The Wildcats would go into the half with a 1-0 lead.
Jackie Richards scored her second goal of the day in the 53
rd minute off a Susanna Soderman corner kick. Soderman's kick from the right corner flag sailed into the box where only the 5'10" Richards could connect with it on a header.
The third goal of the game was from yet another Susanna Soderman corner kick. This time from the left corner flag, Soderman kicked the ball to the back post, where an unmarked Alex Little headed the ball in between the Mason goalkeeper and the post.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Mason goalkeeper Ginny Fronk made multiple quick-reaction saves throughout the game to give the Patriots a chance to stay in the game. She had seven saves by end of the game and continues to lead the Atlantic 10 Conference in saves (37) and average saves per game (6.17).
- The Patriots were held to only four shots with one on goal, while the Wildcats tallied 15 shots with 10 on goal.
- The Wildcats controlled the corner flags as well, winning 12 corner kicks compared to Mason's two.
UP NEXT
The Patriots will travel to College Park this Thursday, Sept. 7, to face off against Maryland for the third consecutive season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and can be watched on
Big Ten Plus.
