WORCESTER, MASS. -- American University outshot Holy Cross, 5-3, in penalty kicks to decide the Patriot League Championship Sunday afternoon at the Hart Soccer Field. The teams needed penalty kicks after playing through four overtime periods locked in a 1-1 tie.

Both goals in the game were scored in the second half of regulation. American recorded its lone goal in the 59th minute when Shawn Kukendall (Vienna, Va./Madison) slipped a shot past Holy Cross goalkeeper Kevin Baker to put the Eagles ahead 1-0. Junior Matt Ney tied the score at 1-1 at the 81st minute.

The score remained tied at 1-1 for the final nine minutes of regulation and through four fifteen minute sudden death overtime periods. American proceeded to make all five of its penalty shots, while Holy Cross went three-for-four.

Eagles netminder Michael Behonick (Bohemia, N.Y./Connetquot) made one save in regulation and had his biggest stop of the day during the shootout when he knocked away the third penalty shot attempt by Holy Cross.

American is 11-7-2 overall, 8-1-0 in the Patriot League and will represent the Patriot League in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Eagles defender Bob Brennan (Northport, N.Y./Northport) was selected as the Tournament MVP. The Eagles finish the 2001 regular season with a championship in their inaugural season in the Patriot League. They are preparing to play Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, Nov. 23 on the campus of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.