WASHINGTON, D.C. – George Mason continued its strong start to the season with a commanding 19-7 road victory over Howard on Sunday, powered by an unstoppable offensive performance from Daniella Jimenez. The Patriots (5-2) took control early and never looked back, outshooting the Bison (0-5) 41-19 and dominating the draw circle 21-7.
Jimenez was nearly unguardable, racking up eight goals on 19 shots, including five free-position strikes. She led a relentless George Mason attack that buried Howard with a 10-goal second quarter, putting the game out of reach by halftime. Kate Anders added four goals and an assist, while Dahlia Trippel contributed a hat trick in the win.
George Mason wasted no time setting the tone, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first quarter, with Jimenez scoring twice early. Howard responded late in the period with two goals, including a man-up strike from Leah Croom, to keep things within reach at 4-2.
The second quarter was all Patriots. Jimenez and Anders fueled a dominant 10-goal outburst, overwhelming Howard's defense. While the Bison briefly pulled within one at 4-3 after a Chloe Ronsholdt goal, Mason answered with a relentless scoring stretch, ending the half with a commanding 14-5 advantage.
After the break, Mason's defense tightened its grip. The Patriots limited Howard to just two shots in the third quarter, while Anders and Jimenez continued to attack. Mason extended its lead to 17-5 by the end of the frame, effectively sealing the win.
The final quarter saw both teams trade goals, with Newkirk adding two late tallies for Howard. However, Riley Ellis and Jimenez ensured Mason closed out the game strong, securing the 19-7 victory.
Patriot Points
- Daniella Jimenez: career-high 8 goals, 5-6 on free-position shots
- Kate Anders: 4 goals, 1 assist
- Dahlia Trippel: 3 goals, 1 assist
- Camryn Myers: 2 goals, 1 assist
- Lauren Distad: tied season-high 11 draw controls
- George Mason dominated the draw, 21-7
- The Patriots outshot Howard 41-19
- The Green & Gold forced 16 turnovers while allowing just 12 shots on goal
Up Next
The Patriots head to Richmond next weekend to face the Spider in their first conference matchup of the season. First draw is set for Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
