Patriots May Have Lost Chance At First Ever CAA Title

By Broadside Staff Writer Will Scullion

For George Mason University women’s lacrosse team, giving up a last minute goal was a bitter way to end their Colonial Athletic Association title hopes and their best season ever.

Mason (12-5, 5-2) lost 8-7 to Towson (12-5, 5-2) Friday night in the semifinal round of the CAA tournament on the campus of William & Mary in Williamsburg.

Throughout the entire game, neither team led by more than one goal.

The Patriots posted 12 wins this year, making it their best season in school history.

The team also achieved the highest national ranking in school history when they were ranked No. 9 in Inside Women, as the Patriots started their season with a win against perennial powerhouse Johns Hopkins and ended it with a victory against division-rival James Madison.

But it was a last-minute goal by junior attacker Britt Woodfield that ended the Patriots’ hopes of winning their first-ever CAA title.

Senior attacker Laura King and freshman midfielder Chelsea Gamble led the scoring for the Patriots with two goals each.

It was possibly the last game as a Patriot for King, who ranks second in goals and fifth in points in Mason history.

The game was also potentially the final game for seniors Jenny Tran, Alex Velesz and Megan Bartlett. Bartlett is No. 12 all-time for the Patriots in draw controls.

The Patriots defeated the Tigers earlier in the season 13-10 but were not able to bring the same type of energy to the semifinal match.

Despite their offensive struggles, the Patriots did outplay the Tigers on defense.

Mason caused 12 turnovers compared to just eight from the Tigers, as junior defender Maggie Bridges had two of the caused turnovers for the Patriots.

Bridges was recently named the CAA Defender of the Year, as she was the first Patriot to win the award in over seven years. She recorded 20 caused turnovers for the season.

Sophomore goalkeeper Sara Longobucco played the entire game in goal for the Patriots, recording six saves on 22 shots.

For the Tigers, senior goalkeeper Mandy Corry played the entire game in goal, as she recorded 10 saves on 25 shots.

Junior midfielder Hillary Fratzke, the 2008 CAA Women’s Lacrosse Player of the Year, led the offensive effort for the Tigers, finishing with four goals and an assist.

This loss could mean the end of the season for the Patriots unless they are able to gain one of the eight at-large bids into the NCAA tournament.

Mason is currently ranked No. 13, the highest ranking for any CAA team.

The Tigers will go on to play number one seed William and Mary in the championship final on Sunday at 1 p.m.

William and Mary defeated four seed Delaware 15-14 on Friday to advance to the CAA final.

King, Bartlett and Bridges all earned first-team all-CAA team honors, while freshmen Caitlin Hoffen, Gamble and Madalyn Jamison were selected to the CAA all-rookie team.