One more win would match everything they built last year.
George Mason's women's lacrosse team takes the field Saturday at noon in Fairfax, hosting St. Bonaventure in an Atlantic 10 conference matchup that carries some real weight for both programs as the regular season winds down.
The Patriots come in at 6-7 overall and 2-4 in conference play — a record that looks modest on paper but actually represents a step forward from last year, when they finished 7-10 and 2-8 in the A-10. One more win Saturday would match their entire victory total from that 2025 campaign. They were picked seventh in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll, so every win they've added has been earned against expectations.
St. Bonaventure arrives with a stronger footing: 7-7 overall and 3-3 in conference play. The Bonnies were pegged fourth in the preseason poll and return eight of their top ten point-scorers from a 2025 squad that went 10-8. They're the more experienced side on paper, and they carry a recent edge in this rivalry — the last time these two met, in April 2025, St. Bonaventure won convincingly, 16-11. That said, George Mason leads the all-time series 9-2 across twelve meetings, so the Bonnies know what it's like to be the underdog in this gym.
The Patriots have players worth watching closely. Kate Anders has been one of the more productive attackers in the country this season — she ranks 21st nationally in total goals with 44, 18th in goals per game at 3.38, and sits in the top 35 in both total points and free-position goals per game. Riley Ellis has been equally important as a distributor, ranking 29th nationally in total assists with 27 and 34th in assists per game at 2.08. In goal, Regan Bestick has been a wall — 111 saves on the season puts her 21st nationally, and her 8.54 saves per game ranks 20th.
There's also a milestone worth noting from the recent schedule: Emily Mowbray recorded her first career hat trick in the game against Duquesne, a sign of depth developing in the roster. That depth includes ten new additions this season — nine freshmen and one sophomore — who have been integrating into a program that's clearly trying to build something more durable than last year's results suggested.
Off the field, head coach Kara Mupo has drawn international recognition, having been named head coach of the Israel National Sixes Team ahead of Olympic qualifiers. It's the kind of appointment that speaks to her standing in the sport, even as her day-to-day focus remains on a team still fighting for positioning in the A-10 standings.
Saturday's game streams on ESPN+ with live stats available through the athletic department. After this one, the Patriots have one more home game left — Rhode Island visits Fairfax on April 18th for the final regular-season home contest. The window to build on this season's progress is narrowing fast.
Notable Quotes
Emily Mowbray recorded her first career hat trick against Duquesne this season.— George Mason Athletics
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
George Mason is 6-7 — is this actually a good season for them, or are they underperforming?
It's genuinely better than last year. They went 2-8 in conference play in 2025. They're already at 2-4 this year, and one more win ties their total victory count from that whole season.
So the bar was low coming in?
They were picked seventh in the preseason poll out of what's a competitive A-10. Finishing above that projection, even slightly, matters for recruiting and program momentum.
What makes Kate Anders worth watching?
She's top-25 nationally in goals and points. On a team that's been inconsistent, she's been a constant — the kind of player who can change a game's shape in a single quarter.
And St. Bonaventure — are they the favorite here?
On paper, yes. They're above .500 in conference play, they return most of their scoring, and they beat Mason by five goals the last time they met. But Mason leads the all-time series 9-2, so there's history working the other way.
What does the coach being named to an Olympic national team staff actually signal?
It signals she's regarded well beyond Fairfax. For recruits and current players, that kind of external validation matters — it says the person running your program is operating at a high level.
Ten new players in one season — is that a lot of turnover, or normal roster building?
It's a significant infusion. Nine of them are freshmen. That's a program betting on youth, which can be volatile in the short term but sets up depth for the next few years.