The GW men’s soccer team went into the George Mason University Soccer Classic this weekend in desperate need of a victory or even a good showing.
It got neither.
The Colonials were outscored 5-1 and outshot 30-12 in two weekend losses, one to Drexel University Sunday and another against Towson University Saturday.
GW(1-7) has lost its last seven matches, and has been outscored 25-9 and outshot 125-52 for the season.
The leading Colonial scorers are freshman Jason Holloway with three goals, and junior Evan Nierman and senior Craig Jones with two goals apiece.
GW has utilized three different goalies on the season, with junior Michael Jelencovich making his first two starts at the George Mason Classic. Jelencovich’s play was a relative bright spot for GW as he notched 11 saves this weekend for a team-best save percentage of .688 and a goals against average of 2.5.
GW begins Atlantic 10 conference play Sunday at 2 p.m. at Virginia Tech.
Drexel 1, GW 0
After playing scoreless soccer in the first half, Drexel University netted the only goal of the game early in the second stanza, defeating GW 1-0 Sunday afternoon at the George Mason Classic.
The Dragons (3-2-1) were hampered by Colonial goalkeeper Michael Jelencovich’s stingy play until the 60th minute, when substitute Mark Zajac scored off an assist from another sub, Ramon Carinci.
Drexel outshot GW 17-3 in handing the Colonials their seventh consecutive defeat. GW played a physical match, committing 25 fouls.
Towson 4, GW 1
GW lost to Towson University 4-1 Saturday afternoon in the first game of the George Mason Classic.
Towson (4-2) spoiled Jelencovich’s first start of the season and handed GW its sixth consecutive defeat of the season by forging a three-goal halftime lead and holding on for the victory.
In the 22nd minute, senior Richie Moller netted the Tigers’ first goal of the game by dribbling in and beating Jelencovich on a blast inside the right post after gathering a deep punt from goalie Ethan Jennings.
Moller added a second score in the 43rd minute, his seventh goal of the season, on an assist from junior Jason Lockerman. Lockerman came back with a goal of his own two minutes later, scoring on an assist from senior Matt DeOrsey with just nine seconds left before halftime to give Towson a 3-0 advantage.
GW suffered a costly defensive miscue in the 66th minute when freshman defender Kali Hislop’s back pass sailed into the Colonials net for an own goal.
The Colonials avoided being shut out when senior midfielder Ben Hatton scored the final goal of the contest in the 79th minute, his first goal of the season, on an assist from Hislop.
Towson outshot GW 15-9 with Jelencovich notching three saves for GW.