By Drew Costley
George Mason High School’s girls varsity soccer team gave up a goal, but beat William Monroe High School 5-1 last Friday. It was only the third goal the George Mason Mustangs (3-0, 3-0) have given up in 10 games dating back to their loss to Clarke County High School in the Bull Run District championship last May.
But George Mason Head Coach Jennifer Parsons said she was happy with the win. According to Parsons, the Mustangs played particularly well in the second half and controlled the game.
“The girls played with intensity throughout the entire game. We did a really good job of playing to feet and keeping possession of the ball,” Parsons said. “We did a good job of creating a lot of dangerous goal-scoring opportunities.”
The Mustangs had 30 shots on goal against the William Monroe Dragons (3-1, 3-1), according to Parsons, and had several shots hit the crossbar or goal posts. She said the Mustangs were “unlucky” to not have scored more against the Dragons.
The Dragons blanked their opponents in two of their three wins this season and beat Clarke County, the defending Bull Run District postseason champions, 3-2 to open the season. Parsons said she is looking forward to playing the Dragons again in late April.
“William Monroe was a tough opponent,” Parsons said. “They are an athletic, physical team with a strong defense.”
The Dragons began their lone scoring drive of the game on a quick transition. One of the Mustangs’ defenders slipped while trying to defend a William Monroe player. That William Monroe player launched a long-range shot that caught the Mustangs off guard and went into the goal.
Sophomore midfielder/forward Corinne Carson scored the Mustangs’ first goal off of an assist from senior midfielder Claire Trevisan. It was the Mustangs’ only goal of the first half.
Trevisan scored a hat trick in the second half. Her first goal came after receiving an assist from junior forward/midfielder Ava Roth. Then Carson scored the Mustangs’ third goal of the game on an assist from sophomore midfielder/forward Kate Mills. Trevisan’s other two scoring strikes followed, after receiving assists from junior midfielder Jessica Gemond.
The Mustangs’ next opponent is Central High School, whom they play on Friday at home. Parsons said her players are working on finishing more of the scoring opportunities they create, playing to feet instead of passing long balls for their teammates to chase down, and working off the ball to “support the play.”
The Mustangs have an action-packed week ahead of them, starting with their match against the Central Falcons. Next Monday, the Mustangs play Rappahannock County High School on the road and then play Manassas Park High School the next day. Then they play Clarke County next Wednesday in order to make up for a game originally scheduled for last Tuesday.
