The Patriots continued their historic start with a win over their rivals
BY CHRISTIAN SEGOVIA, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
On Sept. 28, Mason men’s soccer dominated George Washington, defeating their rivals 5-2.
Starting the game off with possession, Mason moved the ball around the field showing chances of a breakthrough goal through using corner kicks and free kicks; however, their chances were met with the ball either going over the crossbar or being blocked by George Washington. The Revolutionaries started the scoring with a free kick from Finn Roberts in the 30th minute of the first half.
In the 32nd minute, Mason was given a penalty. Forward Marek Gonda took the penalty and kicked the ball down the middle, tying the score 1-1.
In the 42nd minute of the first half, Mason defender Luis Maestre would start his run from the defense side into the midfield, finding Gonda, who would then pass it to forward Abdul Kamara on the right side of the field. Kamara would cross the ball from the right side of the field into the box to midfielder James Eliuda, who passed the ball to midfielder Henry Wachsman. Wachsman scored to put the Patriots up 2-1 at halftime.
Mason continued their possession game as the second half started. In the 50th minute, Gonda dribbled past a defender, having a chance at goal but George Washington goalkeeper Tom Macauley came out and grabbed the ball before he could shoot. From the 50th minute to the 63rd minute, Mason kept possession, passing the ball around and attacking to find any holes in George Washington’s defense.
In the 63rd minute, Mason lost the ball on their defending side to George Washington midfielder Roee Tenne, who passed it inside the box to forward Jaden Dubon. Dubon kicked the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal, forcing a 2-2 tie.
In the 73rd minute, Mason defender Leo Lemoine took a shot outside the box that would go over the crossbar to the left. In the 76th minute, Mason forward Quentin Clain scored on a rebound to put the Patriots in front 3-2.
In the 80th minute, Gonda crossed the ball from the right side of the box into Clain with another chance at goal but it was saved by Macauley. In the 83rd minute, Eliuda got the ball in the middle of the field and passed to Clain. Clain knocked in his second goal on a breakaway against Macauley.
In the 84th minute, Eliuda shot the ball from outside the box directly at Macauley, who blocked the ball. The ball rolled right to Gonda, who put the ball in the bottom right of the net to clinch a 5-2 win for the Patriots.