The George Mason High School club ice hockey team, partnering with West Potomac, took a detour on its winning path last week with a 4-4 tie against Briar Woods and a 12-3 shellacking by Lake Braddock.

Against Briar Woods, the GM-WestPo squad controlled the contest for most of the game. Playing without league-leading goal scorer Hunter Olson, they took a 4-2 lead into the final period on a hat-trick by Peter Stamos and an additional goal by Bobby Soule, off assists from Andrew Williamson and Marsden Davis. But Briar Woods stormed back with two goals late in the contest to secure the tie.

Things initially looked better against first-place Lake Braddock, with Olson whipping two shots past the Bruin’s goalie in the first two minutes of the game. But Lake Braddock picked up three goals on strange bounces and then began picking apart GM-WestPo goalie Bryan Snigur on odd man rushes. A second period goal by Stamos was all the home team could muster in a game marred by eight penalties on each squad.

The tie and loss knocked the Mustangs from second place to fourth in league standings. They look to return to the win column against Loudoun Valley Friday at Ashburn Ice House.