George Washington University
9-9-1
No. 8 George Mason
15-5
GW Women's Soccer Drops Heartbreaker to George Mason
11/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
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Nov. 5, 2015
DAVIDSON, N.C. - The George Washington women's soccer team's 2015 Atlantic 10 Championship run came to an end on Thursday as the Colonials fell to rival George Mason in the quarterfinal round at Davidson's Alumni Stadium.
The loss ends the Colonials' (15-5-0, 10-1-0 A-10) historic 13-match win streak, while George Mason (9-9-1, 5-5-1, A-10) advances to the semifinals to face the winner of VCU and Fordham on Friday.
The first half featured a defensive battle on both sides of the field, as the squads traded three shots apiece for the first 33 minutes of play. In the remainder of the first stanza, Mason fired off five unanswered shots with one on target that was grabbed by senior goalkeeper Ellen Conway to keep the match scoreless into halftime.
Both squads came out more aggressive in the second period as GW out-shot Mason, 7-2, while the Patriots tallied 13 fouls in the half. The Colonials came close in the 65th minute as First Team All-Conference junior MacKenzie Cowley took the ball deep in the box, losing her defending eight yards out and taking a sliding shot from right side of the post, but Mason's keeper came out and made the save. In the 72nd minute, senior Kristi Abbate got off a solid strike across the box and was on target to the lower left corner of the net, but Mason again made the save.
The Patriots broke the tie after converting a set piece in the 76th minute. Mason's Kaila Williams took the free kick from the top right corner of the box and served it across the box to Emily Littell, who's header redirected the ball as Abby Downey one-touched it into the back right corner to give Mason a 1-0 lead.
Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Sofia Pavon missed just high off a free kick for her team-best third shot of the game in the 77th minute to begin a series of five shots for the Colonials over the final 13 minutes of play.
Sophomore Ivana Szwejkowski rattled off two shots in quick succession after a corner kick by junior Lina Proska. Szwejkowski's first shot was blocked in the 78th minute before she headed the rebound in the crossbar before the ball was cleared to end the threat.
GW now hopes for an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Women's Soccer Selection Show will take place on Monday, Nov 9, at 4:30 p.m. and is available for viewing at NCAA.com as 64 teams will be selected to participate in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
Team Stats
DOWNEY, Abby
Assisted By: LITTELL, Emily , WILLIAMS, Kaila
off set play
75:43
