Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, VA. – The Virginia Tech women’s lacrosse team earned its first victory of the season, 10-8, against George Mason on a rain-soaked Saturday afternoon at Thompson Field. The Hokies are now 1-4 (0-1 ACC) on the season. George Mason falls to 0-2 with the loss.
The match started out as a defensive battle with steady rain proving to be a difficult obstacle for both squads. The Patriots broke the 0-0 stalemate after seven minutes of play to take the 1-0 lead.
Virginia Tech’s Caitlyn Wier (So., Cockeysville, Md. ) evened the score three minutes later with her second goal of the season. The two teams continued to battle and Morgan Widlake (Fr., Catonsville, Md.) pulled through for the Hokies with her first career goal to hand Tech the 2-1 advantage with 7:24 left in the opening half.
In less than two minutes, Rachel Culp (Sr., Kent, Ohio) picked apart the Mason defense for two consecutive goals and Tech appeared to have the match in control with a three-goal advantage. Yet George Mason refused to back down and responded with two goals of its own to close the half. Despite the Patriot run, Virginia Tech headed into the intermission with a 4-3 lead.
George Mason continued to pressure the Tech defense at the start of the second half and regained the lead, 5-4, with 21:51 left in the match. Jessica Nonn (Fr., Catonsville, Md.) slashed through the middle of the Patriot defense and placed the quick pass from Culp into the back of the net to tie the contest at five-all. The goal was Nonn’s ninth of the season, while Culp was credited with the assist.
Not to be outdone, Culp once again took the game into her hands and collected her third and fourth goals of the match in a short nine-second span. Tech’s senior leader now has 10 goals and two assists on the year.
Culp’s four goals on the day led all scorers and marked the first time a Hokie had recorded four scores in a single game since Kady McBrearty and Emala both achieved the feat last season against then-No. 8 Duke.
George Mason fought back and picked up another score to cut the deficit to one goal before Julie Wolfinger (Fr., Finksburg, Md.) pushed the lead back to two goals with her first career goal. The Patriots would rally again to tie the match at 8-8 with 4:32 remaining on the clock.
Wolfinger would win the ensuing draw and Allie Emala (So., Baltimore, Md.) stepped up for the Hokies, netting the game-winner with under four minutes to go.
The Hokies tacked on an insurance goal from Liz Carpenter (So., Lewes, Del.), bringing the score to 10-8 and only two minutes remaining.
George Mason had an opportunity to cut into the lead, but Tech starting goalkeeper Kari Morrison (Sr., Springfield, Va.) made the crucial save and the Hokies ran out the remaining time for the win. Morrison would finish the game with 16 saves.
Despite turning the ball over 27 times to 21 turnovers by the Patriots, Tech had a decided advantage, winning 15 draw controls to just five for George Mason.
Virginia Tech, in the midst of a three-game homestand, will face Vanderbilt at Thompson Field on Tuesday, Mar. 3, at 4 p.m.