LOS ANGELES, Calif. — George Washington University was unable to pick up a “W” against No. 15 Long Beach State University and host/No. 23 Loyola Marymount University by falling via 13-1 and 11-5 final scores, respectively, to conclude the Colonials’ participation at the LMU Invitational.
In the day’s opener versus LMU, the Colonials fell behind early and were unable to recover as the Lions jumped out to a 4-0 lead by the conclusion of the firt quarter and expanded the margin to 7-1 by halftime on the way to an 11-5 victory.
For the Colonials, Maddy Johnson, Erin McGeoy, Scarlett Hallahan, Anya Welch and Kira Bruno each deposited goals with Allison DeCicco (one), Johnson (two), Allyson Bakos (one)and Maggie Ball (one) being credited with assists.
On defense, Johnson, Bruno and goalie back-up goalie Geena Peyton each recorded two steals, with McGeoy, Jacqueline Bywater, Hallahan, Welch, Ball and goalie Katherine Moeller each swiping away one ball from Loyola Marymount.
Moeller took the loss with five saves, a steal and 10 goals allowed in 26:31 of work prior to Peyton coming on to notch two saves with a goal allowed over 5:29.
For LMU, Caitlin Schafer led the way with four goals in support of a three save performance over 21:12 by Lions’ netminder Sky Flores prior to departing the game with a 9-2 lead.
The teams were nearly even on the major statistics as LMU held a 27-23 advantage on shots and went one-for-four on man-up chances to GW’s one-for-five performance. However, the Lions claimed all four sprints and used an early offensive outburst to put the Colonials’ on their heels for the vast majority of the contest.
Squaring off with Long Beach State in the final game of the tournament for George Washington, the Colonials again fell into an early hole and were unable to recover in falling 13-1.
The 49ers went to work as Christina Kotsia mined a goal with 3:30 left in the first quarter to stake Long Beach to a 1-0 lead at the conclusion of the opening frame. The second quarter brought an offensive outburst by the 49ers as Long Beach State widened the gap to 6-0 by halftime thanks to a five-goal outburst.
GW finally broke through with 6:09 remaining in the third quarter as Bruno blasted a ball into the back of the cage on a man-up chance off an assist from Maddie Goodell, but the walls caved in on George Washington from there as Long Beach outscored the Colonials 3-0 over the remainder of the third quarter and 4-0 in the fourth quarter to claim a 12-goal margin of victory.
For George Washington, Bywater and goalie Samantha Runyon both registered pairs of steals to key the defense. Runyon took the loss with four saves and six goals allowed prior to Peyton coming on to permit seven goals with six saves.
Eight different players scored for Long Beach State in the game with goalie Mariette Harris earning the victory with seven saves in going the distance.
Unlike the first game, the 49ers dominated the contest by holding a 33-16 advantage on shots and converting four-of-five man-up bids while limiting the Colonials to a one-for-11 performance in six-on-five opportunities.
