FAIRFAX, Va. – A game-winning goal by Freshman Julia Foley gave the Colonials an 11-10 overtime victory on the road against George Mason to open up the 2026 campaign.
 
1^st HALF
RMU got its season started quickly as Mia Berthoff found the back of the next possession of the first possession to give the Colonials a quick lead with 13:54 on the clock. Just over a minute later, George Mason's Kaitlyn Bestick answered back with a goal to tie up the contest at 1-1. With 10:35 on the clock, the Colonials got a man-up goal from Lea Otts, giving the Colonials a 2-1 lead. George Mason got back-to-back goals before Berthoff scored her second goal of the game to make it 3-3 with just over five minutes left in the first quarter. The Patriots closed out the first quarter with two man-up goals from Delaney Stup and Addison Bechler to make it 5-3 at the end of the first.
 
The Colonials started off the second quarter with a goal from Gabi Puzevic, before getting two back-to-back goals, one from Jade Doldo and one from Madison Prietz, to give RMU a 6-5 lead. George Mason closed out the first half with a goal from Bestick with 32 seconds on the clock to tie the contest up at 6-6 going into halftime.
 
2^nd HALF
Berthoff got the Colonials going in the third quarter with her third goal of the game at 13:25 to give the Colonials a 7-6 lead. With 10:15 on the clock, the Patriots tied the contest back up with a man-up goal from Stup to make it 7-7 before she found the back of the net again five minutes later to give George Mason an 8-7 lead going into the final quarter.
 
A 3-0 push by the Colonials, following two goals from Berthoff and a goal from freshman Julia Foley, gave RMU a 10-8 lead with seven minutes remaining in regulation. The Colonials lead would be short-lived as back-to-back goals by George Mason's Kate Anders tied the game up at 10-10 with neither team able to score in the final 4:56 of the contest, sending the game to overtime.
 
OVERTIME
The Colonials were able to get draw control to open up overtime before a foul by George Mason gave RMU an advantage as a green card was issued to Margaret Harmon, allowing Julia Foley to find the back of the net on the man-up goal off an assist from Mia Berthoff, giving RMU the 11-10 season opening victory over the Patriots.
 
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS
Mia Berthoff led the Colonials with five goals, one assist, and six points. The sophomore recorded six shots, with all six coming on goal. In her collegiate debut, Foley recorded two goals, including the game-winner. Sophomores Jade Doldo and Madison Prietz recorded a goal each, while freshmen Gabi Puzevic and Lea Otts both recorded a goal in their collegiate debuts. Otts also recorded a team-high three assists on the afternoon for four points total. In goal, Katrina Bottomley recorded five saves in the victory.
 
For George Mason, Delaney Stup led the Patriots with four goals while Kate Anders recorded three.
 
UP NEXT
The Colonials (1-0) will return home to Moon Township next Friday to host Canisius in their home opener at Joe Walton Stadium. First draw is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+