PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Led by a season-best seven goals from Shannon Tuozzo, the George Mason women's lacrosse team won its' second-straight game with a 16-11 victory over La Salle on Saturday afternoon.
 
Tuozzo continued her dominance against the Explorers, as she broke the school record for single-game goals last season with nine in a 13-11 win over La Salle. Her seven goals were a season-high on a season-high 13 shots. She also contributed five draw controls and a caused turnover.
 
The Patriots (10-6, 4-4) scored the first goal of the game less than three minutes in to the game, but La Salle responded with three-straight tallies over the next six minutes to take a 3-1 lead. Mason got back within one with just under three minutes to go in the quarter on a tally from Daniella Jimenez.
 
The Explorers (2-11, 0-8) opened the second quarter with two goals in the opening five minutes to push their lead to three, but two-straight from Tuozzo got Mason back within one. It was another two-goal answer from the hosts as La Salle led by three with 90 seconds remaining in the half. However, the Patriots did not back down, scoring the final two goals of the half, including one with just four seconds to go, to regain momentum and trail just 7-6 going into halftime.
 
It was all defense for Mason in the third quarter as it held the Explorers scoreless for over 14 minutes of the frame, while converting three goals on the other end of the field to finally gain the lead for the first time. A free position goal from La Salle with 14 seconds remaining stopped the Mason run, but the Patriots led 9-8 entering the final quarter.
 
Mason exploded on the offensive end in the final frame to pull away, outscoring La Salle 7-3. The Patriots scored the first two goals of the fourth quarter to pull ahead 11-8, but La Salle responded with three of the next four to get back within one (12-11) with eight minutes remaining. It was all Mason down the stretch however, scoring the game's final four goals to pull out the important Atlantic 10 victory.
 
PATRIOT POINTS

• Joining Tuozzo with a hat trick was Dahlia Trippel, who scored a career-high four goals
• Also on offense, Daniella Jimenez dished out a career-high two assists while scoring one goal
• Kaitlyn Bestick grabbed a game-high six draw controls, while Tuozzo won five and Lauren Distad contributed four
• Defensively, Ciara Curtis scooped up a game-high four ground balls while Gabby Rizzio caused two turnovers

 
UP NEXT
Mason will wrap up the regular season next weekend when it welcomes Saint Joseph's to Fairfax on Saturday, March 27. Opening draw is set for 12 p.m. for Senior Day