PHILADELPHIA – Sophomore attack Nora McCallion scored the final two goals of the game with 1:01 and 0:08 remaining in regulation to pull the Hawks to within two, but the Saint Joseph's women's lacrosse team ultimately fell to George Mason, 14-12, in the Atlantic 10 opener on Sweeney Field on Friday evening. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 5-4 overall and 0-1 in the A-10 while George Mason improves to 6-4 overall and 1-0 in league play.

"George Mason really came out strong in the beginning, and we were able to make some adjustments throughout the game," said Saint Joseph's head coach Alex Kahoe. "We battled back hard but ultimately, George Mason stayed strong throughout the whole game. Our team did step up in the second half. We fought hard for draw controls and we definitely stepped up defensively. Ultimately, in the end, we made a good run but were not able to capitalize on the final opportunities."

George Mason jumped out to a quick 3-0 run by the 24:33 mark and would hold onto that lead until Saint Joseph's sophomore midfielder Katelyn Ambrose scored on a dish from Sarah Smith at the 13:43 mark of the first.

The Patriots responded just 52 seconds later to extend their lead, 4-1.

A trio of unassisted SJU scores from Smith (10:35) and junior midfielder Kelly Phelan (8:50, 8:03) tied the score, 4-4, with just over eight minutes to play in the first, but the Patriots responded with a trio of their own goals to pull back ahead, 7-4, at the 4:02 mark.

The Hawks would then take advantage of a Patriots yellowcard on George Mason's leading scorer Jacquelyn Spalding as sophomore defender Maggie Egan found sophomore attack Nora McCallion for her first of three scores on the day, an EMO goal at the 2:51 mark.

After another George Mason score extended the Patriot's lead to 8-5, with just under two minutes remaining in the first 30:00, freshman attack Rena Carabases tucked one away with one tick left on the scoreboard to set the score at 8-6 heading into the halftime break.

Smith didn't waste any time scoring her second goal of the game, hitting the back of the net just 1:49 into the second half to pull the Hawks to within one, 8-7.

However, George Mason continually responded to SJU's scores. Caitlin McGinn responded to Smith's goal at 26:00 to once again give the Patriots' the two-goal lead, and after a Carabases score at 19:41, George Mason's Alexa McGovern won the draw, tore down the field, and scored just nine seconds later to give George Mason the 10-8 edge.

George Mason then scored twice (18:09, 17:17), but Egan (16:50) and Phelan (16:25) responded to keep the Hawks' deficit to two, 12-10.

The Patriots scored twice more (5:37, 2:42), and McCallion scored the final two goals of the game (1:01, 0:08) to keep the Hawks to within two, but time would run out for the Crimson and Gray as the 14-12 score would stand as time expired. 

For the game, Saint Joseph's owned edges in shots (31-28), ground balls (18-15), and draw controls (16-11) and held George Mason scoreless on two FPS; however, the Hawks were hurt by shooting 20% (1-for-5) from the eight-meter.

Smith (8) and Phelan combined for 13 shots while junior defender Caroline Hagan was good for a game-high four ground balls and game- and career-high five caused turnovers. Phelan, junior defender Mallory Grey, and freshman defender Aly Gormley added three draw controls apiece.

Senior goalkeeper Nora McGeever (5-4, 0-1 A-10) made four saves in a full-game effort.

Saint Joseph's returns to A-10 action at Richmond this Sunday, March 29. Start time at Robins Stadium is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.