Sports in a Minute: Women's Soccer and Volleyball

WOMEN’S SOCCER

In a hard-fought match, the George Mason University women’s soccer team fell short in a 2-0 loss to Hofstra on Friday night at Hempstead, New York. The CAA’s top team improved to 6-4-1, 3-0-0 as Mason lost its second consecutive CAA game and fell to 4-7-0, 1-2-0. Hofstra struck first with forward Diane Caldwell’s 14th minute goal, which was her third of the season. Midfielder Tiffany Yovino and defenseman Jess Crankshaw assisted on the play. Yovino would score Hofstra’s insurance goal at the 65:03 mark. Mason would get their opportunities, but came up empty-handed when midfielder Patti Benner nearly headed one in before a Hofstra prevented the equalizing goal to keep the score at 1-0 early in the second half. Mason goaltender Kelly Keelan came out of her position towards the latter part of the game to take a free kick from 20 yards out, but a diving stop by Hofstra goalie Krystal Robens kept Mason off the board.

Next opponent/home game: vs. Georgia State (10/10)

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

The George Mason University women’s volleyball team continues to struggle as the Patriots suffered their sixth consecutive loss at home on Friday night to Hofstra (24-26, 25-23, 25-21, 18-25, 10-15). This marked the second straight five-set loss for the Patriots as the team failed to capitalize on a 2-1 set lead entering the fourth. Outside hitter Rebecca Walter recorded another double-double with 15 kills and 11 digs, and middle blockers Laura Turner and Jourdan Dozier scored double-digits in kills with 12 and 10, respectively. Freshman libero Katrina Boryc led the team with 21 digs, but Hofstra’s Harmonie Calinda, Ashley Legerretta, and Monica Knight were too much for the Mason blockers.

In their second match of the weekend, Mason fell in a 3-0 sweep to Northeastern (25-27, 13-25, 23-25) and dropped their seventh consecutive match. Mason (4-12, 0-3) was led by Walter’s 13 kills and Turner’s four blocks. Freshman outside hitter Noelle Fanella provided eight digs. The Patriots’ best opportunity came early in the match when Mason took an 8-0 run in the middle of the first set to lead 17-9. Northeastern rallied as the Huskies took the final two points of the set after a kill from Dozier extended the set momentarily. Northeastern easily won the second set as they led every point, but Mason put a valiant effort in the third set to come up short as the Huskies again put the Patriots away on the final two points.

Next opponent: at Georgia State (10/10)
Next home game: vs. Towson (10/17)