The GW women’s lacrosse team lost to George Mason 17-4 Wednesday at the Mount Vernon Athletic Complex. Sophomore Heidi Mayer led the Colonials (1-1) who are competing in only their second year as a Division I varsity team.

“I think we were more aggressive than they were but they are more mature then we are and we got frazzled,” Mayer said. “I think it was good we had this game earlier in the season and now we can only go up.”

Mayer described the non-conference game as more of a learning tool because it doesn’t count in the Colonials conference record.

Mayer scored two goals but her efforts were not enough to overcome the barrage of Patriot offense, which included five goals from Jill Toomey, four goals from Kristy Manas and two goals from both Lisa Hagan and Kate Scott.

Mayer said the effort was impressive considering GW’s goalie, sophomore Casey Atkins, has been out for the past month, leaving field player Rachel Abdulla to learn the position. Mayer said she hopes Atkins will be back next week.

George Mason (1-1) got on the board early, scoring its first two goals in the first three minutes of the contest. By halftime, the Patriots had an 11-2 advantage.

The scoring did not let up in the second half, with the Patriots scoring two goals in the first five minutes and ending the game with four unanswered goals.

Sophomore Meghan McDounough and freshman Lauren Bower also had goals for the Colonials.

GW will host its first conference match against Duquesne next Saturday at noon at the Mount Vernon Athletic Complex.

“We need to continue our intensity on the field and we’ll be able to win,” Mayer said. “The team is really positive right now.”