After an opening match victory over Howard University Sept. 2, it appeared the young GW men’s soccer team would grow up faster than expected.

But after a 2-0 loss to George Mason University Wednesday afternoon at South Riding Field, it seems the Colonials still have a lot to learn.

“We let two goals in on two mental lapses,” GW head coach George Lidster said. “We knew coming in with this young team we are going to make these mistakes, and we know we are going to make a lot more in the next few games, just because of the make-up of the team.”

George Mason (2-2) grabbed an early lead in the 26th minute and never looked back. The Patriots’ Scott Thelen attempted to make a centering pass, but GW freshman goalie Nick Parypinski got his hands on it and deadened the ball in front of his goal. George Mason’s Eduardo Lima, unmarked by a GW player, proceeded to step into the rebound and net the goal to Parypinski’s left side to give the Patriots a 1-0 lead.

The game turned into a back-and-forth battle with neither team holding possession for a prolonged period of time. With the ball hovering around midfield, shots were few and fouls were plentiful. GW took just seven shots and committed 26 fouls as the two teams combined for 15 total shots and 43 fouls.

While the Colonials’ offense failed to get on track for much of the first half and the beginning of the second, George Mason added to its lead in the 54th minute. After George Mason maintained possession on offense for a minute, Lima made a crisp pass to a cutting Thelen on a give-and-go. Thelen waited for Parypinski to challenge him before sliding a shot past the left post to put the Patriots up 2-0.

The Colonials (1-2) were able to put some offensive pressure on George Mason later in the second half. A ball from GW’s Kali Hislop slipped through Patriot goalie Paul Marcoullier’s hands and behind him in the 72nd minute, but a GW centering pass was knocked out of bounds.

In the 84th minute, a cross from Ben Hatton found freshman Jason Holloway in good position, but his shot sailed a few feet over the crossbar. GW could not convert a number of good late chances into scores and could have had several more chances throughout the game, Lidster said.

“That’s been our problem so far,” Lidster said. “We haven’t got someone who has the guile and the subtlety and the experience to open up the defense. Too many times the last ball is a floated cross easy for the keeper, or straight into the defender, or it’s too far.”

One of those players to step up on offense could be Ben Ferry, who made his first appearance for GW this season after recovering from a minor knee injury in a preseason scrimmage. The senior midfielder, who led the NCAA in assists in 1997, played 34 minutes.

GW will play two matches at the Old Dominion University/Stihl Classic this weekend. The Colonials will face ODU Friday and the College of William & Mary Sunday.