by Jeffrey Wojtala – Special to the News-Press

George Mason High School’s varsity field hockey team won its third game in a row Monday, Sept. 26 with a 4-0 win against School Without Walls of Washington, D.C. The win elevated the varsity team’s record to 8-2 on the season.

From the opening whistle Mason controlled the tempo of the game, maintaining possession in the Penguins’ end of the field. On Mason’s first penalty corner of the night, Celine Diz inserted the ball to Meredith Johnson whose shot was deflected in front of the goal by Olivia Cipriano for a 1-0 Mason lead.

Mason would go on to take ten penalty corners in the first half but could not capitalize on any of the others. The Penguins did make excursions into the Mason end of the field but were turned away each time before they could manage a shot on senior goaltender Hannah Hiscott.

The second half began with Mason beginning with the ball and they once again took play to the Penguins in their end of the field. At the 16:53 mark, on Mason’s twelfth penalty corner of the game, after insertion to Kalena Wojtala, Kalena’s shot was driven to the far right post where Manon Diz put the ball behind the Penguin goalie for the 2-0 lead.

The Penguins continued to have problems getting the ball past midfield which allowed Mason Coach Amanda Crider to freely substitute all her players throughout the game. Meredith Johnson got her second point of the night when she placed a hard shot inside the netting at the 5:35 mark for a 3-0 lead. Celine Diz scored Mason’s last goal of the night after a great centering pass from Olivia Cipriano, her second point of the night, with 2:04 left in the game.

Throughout the match the Penguins goalie played tough, knocking aside numerous shots from the Mustangs. The score would have been much higher except for her outstanding play. Mason finished the game 2 for 22 on penalty corners, but they also did not allow one shot on goal.

Mason will travel to Kettle Run High School on Thursday, Sept. 29 for its next match.