Field Hockey Falls in NCAA Tournament to #1 Maryland, 6-1

The American University field hockey team lost to top-seeded Maryland on Saturday, 6-1, in the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 in College Park, Md. Anne-Meike de Wiljes scored the Eagles lone goal in the 32nd minute on a straight shot from the top of the circle off a penalty corner.

American (12-9) took possession of the ball in the opening moments of the game but was unable to turn its early control of the tempo into a shot on goal. The game's momentum shifted in favor of Maryland (23-0) in the eighth minute, as the Terrapins counter-attack offense created the first penalty corner of the game. Off the insertion, Megan Frazer beat American goalkeeper Alyssa Poorman with a straight shot from the top of the circle, giving the Terps a 1-0 lead. Maryland continued to pressure the American circle and was rewarded with a second goal in the 18^th minute to take a 2-0 advantage. The Terps later pushed their lead to 3-0 in the 24^th minute, as Katie O'Donnell corralled her own rebound off a fast break and tapped the ball into the cage.

American cut its deficit to 3-1 just before the half when Christine Fingerhuth made a sensational individual effort to draw a foul inside the circle and earn the Eagles' first corner of the day. De Wiljes made the opportunity count and fired a missile from the top of the circle past Alicia Grater in the cage, giving the Eagles a new life. The score was de Wiljes's eighth of the year.

Maryland quieted American's hopes of a comeback after the intermission as Thomas netted her second goal of the game off a penalty corner in the 45^th minute, extending the Terps' lead to 4-1. The Eagles attempted to answer back in the 48^th minute with an Alli Baron shot, but the sophomore's attempt was saved by Grater and ended the American threat. The Terrapins would later put the game out of reach with two more goals over the game's final 17 minutes, earning the final 6-1 margin.

American (12-9) matched Maryland (23-0) in penalty corners, with each team earning five, but the Terps' counter-attack offense created 18 shots against the Eagles' eight with 12 going on goal. De Wiljes led the Eagles with four shots on the afternoon while Fingerhuth made two attempts at the cage. Poorman made four saves in the cage and Tatum Dyer and Kirstin Gebhart were each credited with defensive saves.

"We are obviously very disappointed that our season is over but give credit to Maryland who played an outstanding game today," Head Coach Steve Jennings commented after the game. "We had significant phases of control and pressure but we couldn't break through Maryland's deep defense. Their offense made us pay when they had opportunities and in that sense I think they really showed why they are the number one team in the country.  I want to thank all of our seniors for their tremendous careers, we will miss them dearly and wish them well."

Check back at AUeagles.com later for video highlights and photos from today's game.