WOMEN'S SOCCER at UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND
WHERE: President's Field at River Road; Richmond, Va.
WHEN: Thursday, September 25 at 2 p.m.
RECORDS: George Mason (2-5-2, 1-0-0), Richmond (3-3-3, 0-1-0)
LAST MEETING: Patriots fell to the Spiders, 0-2, on October 20, 2024
ALL-TIME SERIES: Patriots, 10-4-2
WATCH: ESPN+
LIVE STATS
Richmond, Va. -- The George Mason Patriots (2-5-2, 1-0-0) are set to face the University of Richmond Spiders (3-3-3, 0-1-0) tomorrow, September 25 at 2 p.m. The match will be played at President's Field at River Road. The Green and Gold are looking to secure their first away conference matchup victory.
Following Saturday's win, Head Coach Aaron Brunner shared that the team is "starting to become a little more complete in what (they) do," highlighting the players' growing ability to adapt to the unique challenges each opponent presents. With Atlantic 10 play underway, the Patriots will be eager to build momentum and kick off a winning streak.
SCOUTING THE SPIDERS
Freshman Emma Newman leads the Spiders with 12 points, quickly establishing herself as a key offensive threat. With 5 goals, 2 assists, and 15 shots on goal this season, Newman's impact is undeniable - and the Patriots' defense will need to stay sharp to limit her scoring opportunities. Mason will also need to keep an eye on fellow freshman Julia Lishia, who has already recorded 3 assists. Disrupting Lishia's playmaking will be crucial to preventing Richmond from finding the back of the net.
Goalkeeper Veronica Rrapi is coming off a career-high 12 saves in Richmond's Sunday loss to Duquesne. She has maintained an impressive 0.86 goals-against average this season, making her a formidable last line of defense. To break through, the Patriots must be relentless and precise in their attack, forcing Rrapi to make difficult saves under pressure.
HISTORY AGAINST RICHMOND
The Patriots hold a 10-4-2 all-time advantage over the Spiders. Mason lost last season's conference matchup against Richmond 0-2.
ABOUT THE PATRIOTS
Head coach Aaron Brunner is beginning his second year leading the Green and Gold.
George Mason returns 14 players, with six seniors, six juniors and two sophomores. Seniors include goalkeeper Selamawit Caldart (Shorewood, Wis.), defenders Tessa Niedzwiedzki (Boca Raton, Fla.) and Zoë Vidaurre (Clarksburg, Md.), and midfielders Mia Casciani (Ashburn, Va.) and Rachel Eberly (Denver, Pa.).
Juniors on the team include defenders Julia Bike (Trumbull, Conn.), Ariana Bliven (Parker, Colo.) and Carly Passaro (Farmington, Conn.), midfielders Maria Franjicic (Carlisle, Pa.) and Molly Starner (Boiling Springs, Pa.) along with midfielder/defender Madyson Taylor (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.).
Returning for their sophomore campaigns are Midfielder Isabella Yousefi (Hampton, Va.) and and defender Kate Bowers (Reston, Va.).
The Patriots added 11 players for the 2025 season. Freshman goalkeeper Kylie Brookfield (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) along with midfielders Julia Buono (Oradell, N.J.), Adriana Bonanno (Holly Springs, N.C.) and Kasey Maida (Burke, Va.) are beginning their GMU careers.
Forward Aaliyah Schinaman (San Mateo, Calif.), and midfielders Jordan Felton (Waldorf, Md.) and Ariana Reyes (Washington, D.C.) are graduate student transfers looking to make their mark this season.
Also joining the Green and Gold this season are junior goalkeeper Libby Davy (Adelaide, Australia), sophomore defender/midfielder Gianna Chrapek (Richmond, Va.), redshirt sophomore Mia Arevalo-Delcid (Manassas, Va.), and redshirt freshman Vanessa Sarf (Manalapan, N.J.).
PATRIOTS SCHEDULE
The George Mason University women's soccer team's 2025 schedule features a competitive slate of matchups highlighted by regional rivalries, Atlantic 10 battles, and a strong mix of home and away contests. The Patriots will play 18 regular season matches, including 10 at home at George Mason Stadium.
George Mason began the campaign with a 1-1 draw on the road at William & Mary on Thursday, August 14.
The Patriots wrapped up August with a four-game stretch that included home matches against Delaware and James Madison, followed by road games at Villanova and UPenn.
The Green & Gold rounded out non-conference play in September with a 1-0 win at Loyola Maryland and a 0-0 draw against American.
Mason kicked off A-10 play with a 2-1 win at home against George Washington on Saturday, September 20. The team will begin road conference contests at Richmond (Sept. 25) and La Salle (Sept. 28).
October brings the heart of conference play, starting with a home clash against St. Bonaventure on Thursday, October 2. After a visit to Duquesne on October 5, the Patriots will then host VCU on October 11.
The Green & Gold will close out the regular season with four more A-10 matchups, hosting Davidson (Oct. 16), traveling to Fordham (Oct.19) and Dayton (Oct. 23), and finishing at home against Saint Joseph's on Sunday, October 26.
