NEWS RELEASES

As the only Division III team invited to participate in the Villanova College Hockey Showcase Dec. 7-9, Mason entered the weekend with something to prove. The two Division I match-ups at the Hatfield Ice Arena outside Philadelphia were Mason’s first test of its ambition to go D-I by the 2020-21 season. 

The Patriots took the challenge to heart and left the showcase 2-0 against D-I teams, showing the league that it could compete at a higher level. 

On Friday night, Mason defeated Temple University, 7-4. The action was back-and-forth for most of the game, with goals repeatedly followed a short while later by tying goals. GMU forward Cam Smith finally broke the tie for the last time with less than seven minutes left in the second period, completing his hat trick and adding to the new school record in career goals he had set with his previous goal. 

Mason then ran away with the lead. Mason’s other goal-scorers were Trevor Mack, Christian Nelms, Jacob Lechner and Matthew Rosenberger. Goalie Conor Hartnett made 38 saves to secure the win.

Mason’s game against Penn State University-Berks on Saturday opened with a bang – literally – as a PSU-Berks player was ejected just 12 seconds into the action after a late hit on Trevor Mack.

Mason dominated early, propelled by two goals from Cam Smith and one from Mack. It wasn’t until halfway through the second period that PSU-Berks got a point on the scoreboard.

In the third period, things got tight and Mason almost gave away the game. After Shawn Ryan and Smith scored to extend the Patriots’ lead, PSU-Berks scored three unanswered goals and pulled within one point. As the final seconds ticked down, looking for another goal that would tie the game, PSU-Berks pulled their goalie to take advantage of the momentum shift, but Mason was able to hang on for a 6-5 victory.