May 3, 2008

Box Score

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - In a contest in which neither team led by more than a single goal for the entire 60 minutes, No. 18 Towson (12-5, 5-2 CAA) netted the game's final score off of a shot from junior Britt Woodfield with 37 seconds remaining to top No. 13 George Mason (12-5, 5-2 CAA) by a final score of 8-7 in a Colonial Athletic Association Women's Lacrosse Championship Semifinal on Friday evening at Albert-Daly Field in Williamsburg, Va. With the win, the Tigers advance to the championship game on Sunday at 1 p.m. against top-seeded William and Mary, who advanced with a 15-14 victory over Delaware earlier in the day.

After Woodfield's goal put the Tigers on top, Mason had a chance to send the game into overtime when freshman attacker Chelsea Gamble, a member of the CAA All-Rookie Team, found an opening on the left side of the goal with 11 seconds remaining. Gamble fired a shot that appeared destined for the back of the net but senior goalkeeper Mandy Corry made a spectacular diving stop to knock the ball away and preserve Towson's lead. The Tigers gained possession with seven seconds left and ran out the clock to earn their second CAA Championship Game appearance in the last four years.

After Mason took a 7-6 lead on Danielle Caldwell's goal with 19:42 left in the second half, the Tigers answered just 10 seconds later when freshman Lacey Jennings found the back of the net. CAA Player of the Year Hillary Fratzke was credited with an assist on the goal. After Jenning's goal, both defenses tightened up and the score remained tied until Woodfield's game-winner with 37 seconds left.

Fratzke gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead just under three minutes into the first half with her 53rd goal of the season, an unassisted marker past sophomore goalkeeper Sara Longobucco. However, the Patriots rallied with back-to-back markers from Gamble and senior attacker Laura King for a one-goal advantage.

With 14:13 remaining in the first half, sophomore Jacie Kendall tied the game at 2-2 on a free-position attempt before Fratzke followed 44 seconds later for a one-goal edge. Gamble tied the game at 3-3 with 10:45 remaining by converting a feed from King before Fratzke answered to regain the 4-3 advantage. Sophomore attacker Megan Udovich evened the score at 4-4 with 3:30 remaining in the first half on a free-position shot and the two teams entered the half tied.

Just 26 seconds into the second stanza, Fratzke tallied her fourth goal of the game by converting a feed from Jennings for a 5-4 Tiger lead. The Patriots regained the lead following a pair of free-position goals from King and junior midfielder Alana Chan. Junior Meggie McNamara tied the score once more with a goal with 21:08 remaining to even the score at six.

Fratzke led the Tigers with four goals and an assist while Jennings added a goal and an assist. Corry made 10 saves in the victory as the Tigers were outshot by a 25-22 margin.

King scored two goals with an assist to lead George Mason while Gamble tallied a pair of markers. Longobucco made six saves for the Patriots, who defeated Towson by a 13-10 margin on April 11 at Johnny Unitas Stadium.

Despite Friday's loss, the Patriots enjoyed the finest season in the history of the program in 2008. Mason set a school record with 12 wins and tied the school record for conference wins with five. George Mason reached the highest ranking in school history earlier this year when they reached No. 9 in both polls. Currently ranked 13th in the IWLCA/Under Armour National Poll and 16th in the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll, the Patriots are the highest-ranked team in the CAA in either poll. Towson is 18th in both polls and William and Mary is 20th in the IWLCA/Under Armour National Poll and 19th in the Inside Lacrosse Media Poll.

Mason's four First-Team All-CAA performers was the most of any team in the conference. Senior midfielder Megan Bartlett, junior attacker Brittany Berger, junior defender Maggie Bridges and King all earned First-Team honors. Bridges was named the CAA Defender of the Year for leading a Mason defense that ranked sixth in the nation in caused turnovers per game and seventh in ground balls per game. In addition, three members of the Patriots' talented freshman class earned CAA All-Rookie honors. Gamble, defender Caitlin Hoffen and attacker Madalyn Jamison were all named to the All-Rookie squad.