FAIRFAX, Va. (March 25, 2009) – George Mason improved its record to 14-1 all-time against American University with an 18-8 victory over the Eagles on Wednesday evening at George Mason Stadium. The Patriots' record now stands at 4-4 on the season with conference play beginning next weekend.

Mason's attack has hit its stride the past two contests, scoring a total of 39 goals in a pair of wins. The Patriots followed up Saturday's 21-6 thrashing of Iona College by scoring 18 goals on 42 shots against American, which fell to 1-8 on the season.

Leading the way for Mason was sophomore attacker Madalyn Jamison, who scored a game-high five goals and added a pair of assists for a total of seven points. Jamison also recorded four ground balls, three caused turnovers and two draw controls in the contest. Sophomore Caroline Hoyt provided a spark off the bench with three goals and an assist for four points.

The Patriot defensive unit held the Eagles to only eight goals, marking the second consecutive game Mason has held an opponent to single digits in goals scored. Four players had three or more caused turnovers, including freshman Emily Ellisen (5), sophomore Chelsea Gamble (5), senior Maggie Bridges (4) and Jamison (3). The Patriots held a 21-8 advantage in caused turnovers in the contest.

In addition to caused turnovers, Mason held the statistical advantage in nearly every category. The Patriots outshot American 42-28, and had more assists (10-1), points (28-9), ground balls (28-19) and draw controls (15-13). The only category the Eagles held an advantage in was saves with 14 to the Patriots' 13. American goalkeeper Frankie Solomon played all 60 minutes in the net, recording 11 of her 14 stops in the first half. Mason countered with junior Sara Longobucco, who made 10 of her 13 saves in the second half.

George Mason begins Colonial Athletic Association play with a road game against Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa. on Friday, April 3. The opening draw is slated for 4:00 p.m.

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WASHINGTON - The American University women's lacrosse team lost at George Mason Wednesday, 18-8, despite four goals scored by junior Amanda Makoid. Senior Leslie Fischer and freshman Lauren Schoenberger added two goals each in the loss while sophomore Erin McDevitt led the defensive unit with five ground balls.

George Mason jumped out to a 3-0 lead behind three goals scored in the first eight-plus minutes. American cut the Patriots' lead to 3-2 with back-to-back free position goals from Schoenberger and Fischer midway through the half. George Mason would take a five goal lead though with four straight scores. Makoid tallied her first two goals of the game and Fischer added her second before the half but the Eagles trailed 11-5 heading into the break.

GMU pushed its lead to 14-5 with three unanswered goals to open the second half. Schoenberger put AU back on the board with her second goal of the day off a feed from Emily Stankiewicz with 16:59 remaining in the frame but American was unable to get any closer down the stretch. Makoid added two more goals in the last eight minutes of the game, both off free position attempts, but George Mason outscored the Eagles 4-2 in the final 11:55 to take the 18-8 decision.

Makoid led the Eagles with four goals on seven shots, three of which came off free position attempts. Fischer and Schoenberger each scored two goals and Stankiewicz tallied one assist. McDevitt led the defensive unit with five ground balls while Alyssa Romano picked up three.

American will return to action this Saturday, March 28, at Lafayette in Easton, Pa., at 1:00 p.m.

2009-03-25