FAIRFAX, Va. - The Tigers entered their season finale against George Mason on Saturday evening with hopes of earning a victory while keeping the Patriots from reaching the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament for the second straight season.
However, the Patriots (8-6-5, 5-3-3) used a goal in each half to clinch their second straight postseason appearance with a 2-0 victory over the Tigers (9-10-0, 4-7-0) at George Mason Stadium.
Sophomore goalkeeper Lyndse Hokanson made two saves to post her fifth shutout of the season as the Patriots earned their fourth win in the last six games. Meanwhile, the Tigers suffered their second straight loss.
With the win, the Patriots will play in a quarter-final game on Thursday, Nov. 3 at Albert-Daly Field on the campus of the College of William & Mary. The pairings for the CAA Tournament will be decided following Sunday's games.
The Patriots took a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute when freshman forward Liz Hodges scored her fourth goal of the season off an assist from junior forward Tiana Kallenberger.
With 3:16 remaining in regulation, Kallenberger added an insurance goal for the Patriots when she scored off a deflection of a free kick from sophomore midfielder Jazmin Cardoso.
Kallenberger scored a goal with an assist to lead George Mason, which outshot Towson by a 16-5 margin.
Making her second straight start, freshman goalkeeper Erin Quinn posted a season-high seven saves.
College Women's Soccer: George Mason University 2, Towson University 0
Towson (9-10-0, 4-7-0) 0-0 / 0
George Mason (8-6-5, 5-3-3) 1-1 / 2
Goals: TOW - n/a; GMU - Liz Hodges 1 (31:27), Tiana Kallenberger 1 (86:44). Assists: TOW - n/a; GMU - Tiana Kallenberger 1, Jazmin Cardoso 1. Saves: TOW - Erin Quinn 7 (90:00, 2 goals allowed); GMU - Lyndse Hokanson 2 (90:00, 0 goals allowed). Shots: TOW - 5; GMU - 16. Corner Kicks: TOW - 3; GMU - 6. Attendance: 930.
Game Notes: George Mason has beaten the Tigers in eight straight meetings ... The Patriots now lead the all-time series by a 10-1 margin ... During the Patriots' eight-game win streak, they have outscored Towson by a 18-2 margin ... It is the first time the Tigers have been shut out since a 4-0 loss against Virginia Commonwealth on Oct. 2 ... The Tigers end the season with nine victories, their most since the 2007 season when they finished the year with a 9-8-1 record ... Senior midfielder Courtney McKee played in her 78th career game on Saturday, extending her own Towson record ... The Tigers finish the season with 31 goals in 19 games ... It is their highest goal total since 2002 when they had 36 goals ... The 31 goals are also the fifth-highest total in school history ... Along with McKee, seniors Kaysi Ward, Annie Hillin and Kim Speese played in the final games of their careers ... Senior goalkeeper Jocelyn Papciak missed her second straight game after being injured against Drexel on Oct. 21.
