It’s fitting that Mason’s (17-4-1) departure from the Class 2 ranks for Class 3 next year would be accompanied by the end of a run that spanned more than a decade.

It wasn’t the result the Mustangs wanted, but they aren’t letting a loss to a quality team jade their view of the season.

“We just gotta keep doing what we’re doing,” senior midfielder Maura Mann said. “This year we’ve been playing great soccer, we just have to continue our cohesive play and keep bringing good energy.”

Luckily for the Mustangs, a season’s worth of challenges is pent up for the home stretch as they eye a second straight state title and seventh in the past decade.

IT WAS A LANDMARK WEEKEND for George Mason High School’s track team, with the girls 4x400m relay team taking first place in the race at the Class 2 state meet held at East Rockingham High School.

Mason will be sending a total of five relay teams and eight individual competitors to the 2A State meet to be held on Friday and Saturday, also at East Rock HS.

Mason defeated Wilson Memorial High School 9-0 in the Region 2B semifinal last night and will host the Region championship tomorrow at 7 p.m.

It took about 25 minutes to shake off the holiday malaise, but once the Mustangs did, it didn’t take them long to reacclimate to regional postseason intensity.

Earlier this month Mason closed out the regular season with wins over Clarke and Madison, finishing with a 8-2 regular record, good for their first Bull Run regular season title since 2010.

When will the adversity hit for the Mustangs (15-1-1)? Apparently not anytime soon.