George Washington University

March 2, 2011

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WASHINGTON, DC - After narrowing its deficit to 7-6 just over four minutes into the second half, the George Washington women's lacrosse team surrendered eight unanswered goals en route to a 17-9 loss to local rival George Mason at Mount Vernon Field Wednesday afternoon.

Senior Mia Breheny and junior Sarah Phillips both finished with two goals and an assist to lead GW (1-4), which dropped its fourth straight game. Senior Audrey Joy also scored two goals, but the Colonials struggled with 3-of-10 shooting on free-position shots and GMU goalkeeper Brittany Pastrana made 16 saves.

George Mason (1-3) scored the first four goals of the game and never trailed to post its 10th win in as many tries against GW.

The Colonials twice closed within a goal, but the Patriots surged back ahead both times. Breheny got GW on the board at the 15:39 mark, then Joy and freshman Jordy Bathras scored consecutive goals within 28 seconds of each other to close the gap to 4-3.

Mason's Mary Schwartz netted two straight goal to complete a first-half hat trick and Caitlin Formato added her third goal of the period to re-open a four-goal lead at 7-3 with 10:54 left before halftime.

Joy finished the first-half scoring at the 3:22 mark and GW trailed 7-4 at intermission.

GW came out firing to begin the second half, with Breheny and sophomore Nicole Lacey tallying goals to close within 7-6 with 25:31 to play.

Madalyn Jamison, who also finished with three goals for GMU, pushed the margin to 8-6 three minutes later, then the Patriots rattled off four goals in a span of 2:10 to ignite the momentum-shifting 8-0 run. Chelsea Gamble capped the spurt with her only goal to make it 15-6 with 8:18 left.

Sophomore Abby Sneeringer halted GW's near 20-minute scoreless streak with 6:01 to play to make it 15-7, and junior Sarah Phillips added back-to-back goals to make it 15-9 with 4:37 remaining.

However, the Patriots held the ball the next two and a half minutes before an Allie Hilderbrandt goal with 2:02 left and Jamison added an insurance goal 12 seconds later to cap the win.

Jamison and Schwartz paced GMU with four points apiece, while Gamble won a game-high six draws.

For GW, senior Laura Dominiak led all players with seven ground balls and three caused turnovers. Lacey added a team-high four draws along with her goal. Senior goalkeeper Liz Hoffman made eight saves on 30 shots faced.

GW returns to action Saturday at Virginia Tech at 1:00 pm.