WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - The William and Mary Tribe women's soccer team won its third-straight match on a soggy Sunday afternoon at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field, beating the visiting George Mason Patriots, 3-1.  With the victory, the Tribe improves its record to 7-1-2 on the season and to 2-0 in CAA conference play, while Mason falls to 3-4-3 on the year and to 0-2 in league action.

Junior captain Mallory Schaffer continued her offensive onslaught, scoring two goals, including the game-winner.  Classmate Cortlyn Bristol had the other Tribe score, while senior Diana Weigel, junior Erin Liberatore, and freshman Anna Madden all tallied assists on the afternoon.  Junior goalkeeper Katherine Yount had a pair of saves in the win.

Among the numerous scoring chances for the Tribe early was a nice look from distance from Weigel.  After taking a pass, Weigel dribbled around her defender to find some space.  From 20 yards out on the right side, Weigel fired a shot towards the far post, forcing the GMU keeper to make a diving save to keep the match scoreless.

After its many good chances at a goal, the College finally got on the scoreboard in the 33rd minute.  Working on the left side of the field, Liberatore found Schaffer in space at the top right corner of the 18-yard box.  Schaffer quickly spun, getting free of her defender and cracked a shot from 15 yards, beating the Mason goalie to the near post.  Schaffer's seventh goal of the season gave the College a 1-0 lead over GMU.

Just under six minutes later, the Tribe doubled its lead off of a set piece.  After a Mason foul, the College had a free kick from 23 yards out on the right side.  Taking the kick was Weigel, who delivered a great pass, finding the head of Bristol.  Bristol finished well, heading the ball in to the top right corner of the net, giving W&M a 2-0 lead at the halftime break.

After the first 45 minutes, the Tribe held a 10-2 advantage in shots over George Mason, getting an impressive seven shots on goal to just one for the Patriots.  Corner kicks were even at 3-3.

The College wasted little time after the halftime break, pushing its lead to three goals in the 47th minute.  On the attack, Madden played a great pass to a streaking Schaffer from the left side.  The pass put Schaffer in space with the just the keeper to beat.  Seeing the Mason goalie coming at her, Schaffer chipped the ball beautifully over the charging keeper from 16 yards, scoring her second goal of the match and her fourth of the week.  Schaffer's score pushed the Tribe's lead to 3-0.

It appeared that William and Mary was on its way to posting its sixth shutout of the season, but the Patriots kept fighting and in the 88th minute, Mason broke through with a score.  With the ball on the left side, GMU's Alyssa Andersen sent a cross to Zoe Doherty, who blasted a shot just over the out-stretched hands of Yount for the score.

Despite the late goal, the Tribe's defense was again solid and the College posted a 3-1 victory over George Mason.  For the match, W&M out shot the Patriots, 16-5, with the Green and Gold getting 11 shots on goal to just three for Mason.  Corner kicks were 9-3 in favor of the Tribe.

With the win, the Tribe moves to 2-0 in CAA play for the fifth time in the past seven seasons.  The seven wins after the College's first 10 matches is the most for W&M since the team went 8-2 over its first 10 games in the 2009 season.

The William and Mary Tribe women's soccer team will remain in Williamsburg to host the Georgia State Panthers on Thursday, September 29.  Kickoff at Martin Family Stadium at Albert-Daly Field is scheduled for 7 p.m.