The George Mason High School girls soccer team clinched two victories this past week against Rappahannock County and Strasburg high schools. George Mason beat Rappahannock County last Friday, 3-0, and Strasburg on Tuesday, 7-0. Throughout both games, Mason dominated possession and had many opportunities to score.
Mason began the game against Rappahannock County weaving passes and pushing towards goal, which gained them many opportunities. They managed to convert one of these opportunities when sophomore Camille Rice assisted senior captain Leah Roth, who drew out the keeper and slid the ball to the back of the net.
The George Mason team continued to control the ball, but was unable to finish its offensive opportunities. With only five minutes remaining of the half, junior Maggie Mascarenhas passed to Leah Roth, who slammed the ball with her strong foot into the far left corner. This goal gave Mason a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Mason started the second half with equal intensity, which led to a third goal. Freshman Ava Roth received a pass from freshman Mary Keenan, then used her outstanding foot skills to make a move past her defender and drill the ball to the far corner. This goal was the last for the team, despite numerous chances, giving them a victory of 3-0.
Despite the absence of star midfielder Claire Trevisan, the Lady Mustangs started the game against Strasburg dominating. Leah Roth led her sister Ava past the defense with a through ball, which led her to slash the ball into the far left corner past the goalie. Shortly after, the dynamic duo struck again when Leah assisted Ava who pierced the ball into the upper right corner.
After a hard shot from Leah that ricocheted off the post, Mascarenhas got the rebound and rocketed the ball back; it bounced off the post and into the goal. Mason continued to control the ball, but did experience minor defensive lapses, which gave Strasburg some opportunity to score.
Twenty-five minutes into the half, Leah Roth had a one-on-one with the goalie, and shot the ball to the far right corner giving Mason its fourth goal. With only five minutes remaining in the half, Ava scored her third goal when she received a goal kick from Strasburg, dribbled in, and shot to the far left corner past the goalie. The goal gave Mason a strong 5-0 lead at halftime.
To begin the second half, Mascarenhas assisted Leah Roth, who fired the ball into the upper right corner for her second goal of the game. Mason continued to possess the ball for the remainder of the game, which gave them many offensive breakthroughs.
Ava scored her fourth goal of the game by placing the ball into the upper corner off of a pass from Keenan, finalizing the score of 7-0 for Mason.
“It was exciting how we began converting our opportunities to score into goals and it is going to be very important to continue especially when we play Clarke this week,” said Camille Rice.
George Mason will play rival Clarke County High School, the team Mason beat last year for the state championship title, this Friday. Mason will play Central High School, a team they previously beat 2-0 earlier in the season, on Tuesday.
