Mason defeats GW 1-0 on Senior Night

Mason women's soccer team moves into second place in the A-10 after defeating GW 1-0 on Friday (photo by John Irwin).

Mason women’s soccer team defeated the George Washington Colonials Friday night 1-0 at George Mason Stadium.

Mason (7-8-1, 4-2 A-10) scored in the fourth minute off a corner kick from senior Jazmin Cardoso that found junior Liz Hodges for the header. It would be the only score Mason would need in their dominating defensive performance over the Colonials (5-5-4, 2-3-1 A-10).

The Patriots allowed only one shot the entire game that was not even on goal, making it an easy night for senior goalkeeper Lyndse Hokanson. Mason was able to stop everything the Colonials tried, shutting down every potential chance. After the early goal the Patriots did not do much themselves offensively, getting only three shots on goal. Their only other real chance came with seven minutes left in the game when junior Emily Harvey struck the crossbar 25 yards out.

“The team showed up. Obviously I didn’t have to do much,” said Hokanson, who earned Mason’s seventh shut out this season. “I would rather have a game where I have to make two pathetic saves than one where I have to make ten saves. I’m proud of all the players who played today.”

It was the perfect way for Hokanson and the rest of the seniors to end their last home game as a Patriot on senior night. Along with Hokanson, fellow seniors Cardoso, Nicole Clark and Casey Vornadore were recognized before the game for their careers at Mason.

“I started to get nervous and it kind of just hit me,” said Cardoso about her last home game as a Patriot. “I love Mason and doing what I love, soccer. I was like ‘Wow. I’m never going to play on this field again so I’m going to try my hardest.’”           

Not only was the win a great way to celebrate senior night but it also moved the Patriots currently into second place in the A-10 and a likely bid into the NCAA tournament.

“Thank goodness we won,” said head coach Diane Drake. “It’s never over till it’s over and there’s a lot of games left. We have to take it one game at a time. My goal for the team is finish in the top three, four or five to get in [the NCAA tournament] and that means we have to win at least one more.”

Mason’s win also tied their competition with GW in the Revolutionary Rivalry. The schools have played in two of the sixteen A-10 sports, woman’s volleyball being the other sport that has been played so far. The winner gets the Tri-Corner Hat trophy and the bragging rights that come along with it.

Fresh off their win, the Patriots will travel up to Philadelphia to take on Saint Joseph’s on Friday, Nov. 1 and finish their regular season two days later at La Salle.