by Jeffrey Wojtala – Special to the News-Press

George Mason High School’s varsity field hockey team suffered its first loss of the season against Washington-Lee High School on Monday, Sept. 12. The Generals beat the Mustangs 3-1.
The Generals defense kept the Mason attack unbalanced for much of the first half and after eight consecutive penalty corners Mason found themselves down 1-0 at the half.

The Generals started the second half with the ball and renewed their push towards the Mason net, only to be thwarted time and time again by the strong Mason defensive crew. Mason also got chances in the Generals’ end of the field and managed three penalty corners of their own. But the Generals padded their lead with a goal at the 17 minute mark and a third at 9:21 to put Mason down by three with nine minutes to go. Less than a minute later, Mason’s Celine Diz found the back of the net at the 8:31 mark.

Mason began an earnest drive to tie the score with five minutes left. The Mason girls had one last chance with a minute to go in the game, when the Generals committed a foot foul and the Mustangs had one last chance at a penalty corner.

The ball was well played but Mason could not keep the ball inside the circle and were unable to take advantage of the penalty corner. The Mustangs take on Wakefield High School at home on Thursday, Sept. 15.