SPRINGFIELD, Va. – The George Mason women's lacrosse team opened the 2024 season in thrilling fashion, scoring the game's last three goals en route to an overtime victory over in-state foe, William & Mary, 11-10.
 
The Patriots (1-0) were led on offense by Shannon Tuozzo, who netted a hat-trick to go with a game-high five draw controls. Classmate Morgan Gunn also tallied three points on two goals, including the overtime winner, and an assist.
 
Chloe Reed kicked off the scoring with her first of two goals at the 12:18 mark of the first quarter, before the Tribe (0-1) scored the next two in the span of just 50 seconds to take their first lead of the game. William & Mary took advantage of several player-up opportunities during the first half, as four of its' five goals were scored with an advantage. 
 
The Tribe took a 5-4 lead at the 9:49 mark of the second quarter, but Mason responded with a three-goal run from three separate Patriots spanning just over nine minutes between the end of the second quarter and beginning of the third to take a 7-5 lead. 
 
However, William & Mary scored five of the next six goals over the next nine minutes to take its' own two goal lead (10-8) with 7:20 remaining in the game. Both teams locked down on defense for the next six minutes, holding each other scoreless until Tuozzo netted her third of the night to cut the lead in half with 1:39 to go in the fourth.
 
The Tribe won the ensuing draw, but the Patriot defense caused a turnover in the midfield, and Kate Elam scored in fast break with just over a minute remaining to send the game into overtime. Both teams powered through extensive defensive sets to open the extra time, but Hailey Zutic found Morgan Gunn in transition with two minutes remaining to give Mason the victory.
 
PATRIOT POINTS

• The season-opening win is the first for the Patriots since 2018 when they won at Monmouth on Feb. 21
• Three Patriots tallied multiple goals, all graduate students: Tuozzo (3), Gunn (2) and Reed (2)
• Elam was the third Patriot with three points and the only with multiple assists, nothcing one goals and two helpers
• Ciara Curtis had a stellar day on the defensive end, tallying four caused turnovers and three groundballs
• Netminder Meghan Deehan played all 64 minutes for the Patriots in the goal, posting seven saves with two ground balls and a turnover

 
UP NEXT
Mason will open its' home slate on Sunday, Feb. 11 when it welcomes Radford to George Mason Stadium. Opening draw is set for 1 p.m.