PITTSBURGH – The Duquesne University women's lacrosse team suffered a 17-11 loss Saturday afternoon on the road at George Mason.
 
Chelsea Evans and Jillian Caroselli each had three goals on five shots, while Mackenzie Leszczynski posted four points with two goals and two assists leading the Dukes. Duquesne falls to 1-9 overall and 0-4 in Atlantic 10 play with the loss. George Mason improves to 2-8 and 2-2 in conference.
 
Evans scored all three of her goals in the first quarter to get the DU offense started, but the Patriots were still able to build a 6-4 lead after the opening 15 minutes. George Mason rattled off a 5-1 run after Evans began the game with a score just over a minute in. Then after back-to-back Evans goals late in the first, GMU fired in a buzzer beater starting a 4-0 spurt to push its lead to 9-4 with 8:35 left in the half.
 
Duquesne regrouped on defense and held the Patriots off the scoreboard for the final 8:35 of the first half. Delaney Rodriguez-Shaw and Leszczynski closed out the half with a pair of goals in the final minute to narrow the margin to three (9-6) at the break.
 
The Dukes could get no closer than three in the second half. Rodriguez-Shaw and Mia Failla middled four third-quarter scores by GMU, then Caroselli netted two straight goals to open the fourth frame, but the Patriots charted four of the final five goals down the stretch to hold on for the win. Leszczynski converted a free position attempt with 7:53 to go making it 14-11, but Duquesne would be held out of the net the rest of the way.
 
DU forced 22 turnovers and committed 15, Hanna Pawela caused a game-high three for the Red and Blue. The Dukes went 2-for-8 from the free position in the game, getting goals from Leszczynski and Failla.
 
George Mason held a 35-29 overall and 28-22 on goal shot advantage, while winning 20 of the 31 draws.
 
Rodriguez-Shaw added an assist to her two goals, while Lydia Toparli dished out her second assist of the season to Evans late in the first quarter.
 
Freshman Megan LaBorne was called upon in relief in goal and made 11 saves.
 
Duquesne hosts UC Davis on Wednesday at 4 pm for its non-conference finale at Rooney Field.
 
Follow Duquesne Lacrosse all season online at GoDuquesne.com, as well as on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (@DuqLax).