by Liz Lizama
George Mason High School’s varsity girls soccer team took out William Monroe High School 8-0 to win the Bull Run District tournament last Thursday. As the top seed advancing to the Conference 35 tournament, the Mustangs earned a bye in the conference quarterfinal and played Madison County High School in the semifinal Tuesday. The Mustangs shut out the Mountaineers 8-0 to advance to the conference final tonight against Clarke County High School.
Determined to defend their first championship for the season, Mason quickly dominated Thursday’s Bull Run District title game, scoring seven of eight goals in the first half alone. Sophomore forward/midfielder Becca Crouch, who scored a total of three goals, set Mason’s momentum scoring the team’s first two goals.
The Mustangs led 7-0 at halftime and returned for the second half with junior forward/midfielder Corinne Carson scoring her second goal of the game and Mason’s eighth just two minutes into the half. The game ended early as a result of the slaughter rule.
Senior goalkeeper Katie Cheney played the entire game in goal and earned three saves. Monroe had seven shots in the game.
Adding to Crouch and Carson’s goals, forward/midfielders Ava Roth (senior), Victoria Rund (freshman) and Izzy Armstrong (freshman) each contributed one goal for Mason.
The excitement and determination showed in Mason’s performance as head coach Jennifer Parsons told the News-Press the following morning. “I thought my girls did a very good job offensively of capitalizing on our goal-scoring opportunities, and they worked very hard off of the ball to create options for their teammates,” said Parsons. “I thought it was a very strong team effort overall. Our defenders shut down Monroe’s offense, and we played very smart in the back. In particular our defensive center midfielder Ella Howard did a great job defending Monroe’s most dangerous player (Rachel DeMasters) and limited her to only one shot on goal in the first half.”
Following the game, the Bull Run District honored nine Mustangs with awards, the most from any one team in the district. Crouch, Roth, Carson, junior midfielders Kate Mills and Ella Howard, and defenders Jessica Gemond (senior) and Carly Roberson (sophomore) earned First Team All-District honors. Junior midfielder Caroline Stricker and junior defender Clara Frost were named to the Second Team All-District.
Mason could not be stopped Tuesday night in the Conference 35 semifinal against Madison County as they trampled their opponents in yet another slaughter rule win. Roth led the Mustangs in scoring with three goals. Armstrong, Rund, Mills, sophomore forward/midfielder Megan Butler and junior midfielder Melissa Johnson followed with one goal apiece.
Tonight’s title game will not just determine the Conference 35 champions.
“The winner of the conference will get home field advantage in the regional quarterfinal next Monday,” said Parsons.
“And should the winner advance to the regional championship, they would get to host that game as well, so there is a lot of advantage at stake.”
