George Washington University Athletics
GW Women's Soccer Set for A-10 Homestand
10/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
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Oct. 7, 2015
GW vs. La Salle - Thursday, 3 p.m.: Watch on RaiseHigh Live | | Follow @GWWomensSoccer
GW vs. Massachusetts - Sunday, 1 p.m.: Watch on RaiseHigh Live | | Follow @GWWomensSoccer
The Colonials (7-4-0, 2-0-0 A-10) enter Thursday ranked ninth in the NSCAA's Mid-Atlantic Region and look to extend their five-game win streak when La Salle (4-5-2, 1-1-0 A-10), which went undefeated in A-10 play in 2014 en route to a regular-season title, comes to town.
On Sunday, GW will don pink jerseys for the squad's Kickin' It for a Cure game as Massachusetts (4-3-3, 1-0-1 A-10) heads to the GW Soccer Field after visiting George Mason on Thursday. The Susan G. Komen organization and Camp Kesem - a support organization for children who have parents with cancer - will each have tables at the game to engage with fans and help spread awareness and information about the fight against cancer and how to help the cause.
The Buff and Blue blanked Saint Joseph's, 2-0, last Thursday for the squad's sixth shutout of the season behind junior MacKenzie Cowley's team-leading seventh goal of the year and classmate Kate Elson's first. GW then traveled to St. Bonaventure, where freshman Sofia Pavon netted her third goal of the season to send the contest into overtime and redshirt-senior Nicole Belfonti tallied the golden goal in the second extra session to give the Colonials a 2-1 victory.
Cowley's seven goals ties her for second in the conference, and Pavon is second on the team with a trio of goals. During the squad's five-game win streak, the Buff and Blue have outscored opponents 11-1 and have seen offensive contributions from six different Colonials.
GW's defense ranks fourth in the A-10 with a 1.16 goals-against average, and redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Miranda Horn leads the squad with 37 saves while shouldering the bulk of the minutes.
La Salle split its first week of A-10 play, falling to Massachusetts, 1-0, in double overtime last Thursday before defeating Davidson, 1-0, on Sunday. Fia Jonsson leads the Explorers with eight points (3g, 2a) on the season, while Marykate Bateman (2g) is the only other player to post multiple goals on the year.
Between the posts, Katie Getzinger has contributed the most minutes for La Salle, logging 36 saves and three shutouts for the Explorers.
After downing La Salle last Thursday, Massachusetts extended its unbeaten streak to five with a 2-2 draw at Richmond on Sunday. The Minutewomen are led by Megan Burke's five points (2g, 1a), while eight others have chipped in one goal apiece this season.
UMass goalkeeper Cassidy Babin leads the conference in both goals-against average (0.51) and save percentage (.884).
The Colonials lead in the all-time series with La Salle, 13-8-0, while Massachusetts holds a 7-18-3 advantage over GW. Last season, the Colonials faced La Salle twice, and nearly derailed the Explorers' A-10 unbeaten streak in the conference semifinals, but ultimately fell, 2-1, in two overtimes. GW defeated the Minutewomen, 2-1, on goals by Cowley and junior Lina Proska a year ago.
Thursday's bout is slated for 3 p.m. at the GW Soccer Field, and Sunday's Kickin' It for a Cure match will begin at 1 p.m. to wrap the homestand.
