Box score (PDF)

DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Patriots dropped their Atlantic 10 opener to the Wildcats, 3-2, on Friday night in Davidson, N.C.

Senior forward Kelly Janssen scored both goals for the Patriots to record his third career brace.

Davidson (1-0-4, 1-1-0 A10) took the lead over George Mason (1-3-1, 0-1-0 A10) early in the first half.  In the 14th minute, sophomore forward Niko Zeballos took advantage of a turnover and scored his first goal of the season with a low shot into the right corner of the net to put the Wildcats in front 1-0.

With 12 minutes left in the first half, Davidson threatened to add to the lead but Patriots sophomore goalkeeper Angel Hernandez charged out to the top of the six-yard box and made a sliding save on a one-on-one.

In the 35th minute, Janssen scored the equalizer into the lower left corner of the net.  His second goal of the season was set up by fifth year midfielder Matias de Jesus, who picked up his first assist with the Green and Gold.

Davidson regained the lead nine minutes later.  In the 42nd minute, senior forward Myles Culley scored with a header off a cross into the lower left corner to make it 2-1.

The two clubs combined for nine shots on goal in the first half, the Wildcats five and the Patriots four.

The Patriots struck early in the second half.  Junior forward Martim Sereno played a pass from the midfield stripe ahead to Janssen, who timed his run perfectly and sprinted past three defenders to blister a shot past the diving Davidson goalkeeper for the equalizer. 
 
Midway through the second half, Hernandez came up big for the Patriots again when he made a save on a low shot from 16 yards out from the right side of the penalty area.

In the 65th minute, Davidson took a shot from the left side of the penalty area that hit the inside of the far post, bounced off of Henandez and rolled into the back of the net to make it 3-2 Wildcats.

With 18 minutes remaining, Hernandez kept the Patriots within a goal with a fantastic kick save with his right foot on a shot from seven yards out, but the Patriots were unable to equalize again.

HOW THEY SCORED

14'| Zaballos scored with the right foot from 10 yards out into the lower right corner.
35'| Janssen scored with the left foot from seven yards out into the lower left corner.
44'| Culley converted with a header from six yards out into the lower right corner.
54'| Janssen scored with the left foot from eight yards out into the middle of the net.
65'| Own goal; shot hit the post and went off Hernandez into the net.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Both clubs finished with 11 shots while Davidson finished with an 8-7 advantage in shots on goal.  The Wildcats had six corner kicks and George Mason earned three corner kicks in the match.

Senior midfielder Quentin Clain (69 MIN) led the Patriots with three shots and had two shots on frame.  Janssen (37 MIN) scored on both of his shots in the match.  Sereno (63 MIN) finished with two shots and one shot on goal.  Hernandez made six saves in the match and has made 13 saves over his last two games.

NEXT

The Patriots are on the road to face Bucknell on Tuesday, Sept. 15 with the opening kick scheduled for 7 p.m. in Lewisburg, Pa.