WASHINGTON - Scoring three goals for the second straight game after struggling to put the ball in the net all year, American rolled to a decisive 3-1 win over No. 18 Lehigh here in an important Patriot League game. The win was the second straight for the Eagles, and their third in their last four outings.
American (8-7-1, 5-1-0) wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as they found the net in just the fifth minute of action. Kris Bertsch played a long ball from the midfield to Andrew Herman, who carried the play into the box. Herman drew Mountain Hawk keeper Sam Bishop off his line, and slipped a pass to a streaking Jonathon Colton, who touched it into the back of the net.
The Eagles struck again in the 36th minute, when John Fico, a late first-half substitution, connected for American's second goal. Colton played a nice ball to the middle of the box and through a scramble, Fico touched a low shot past a diving Bishop. It was Fico's first career goal.
American controlled much of the play in the second half, and the last goal of the game was maybe the best of the day. After eluding two defenders near the right touch line, Shawn Kuykendall swung the ball back to the middle and drove a long, low ball that Adam Rosen connected on with a diving header. The ball was redirected into the lower left corner of the goal.
Lehigh (11-4-0, 4-2-0) never really mounted a serious scoring threat. The teams combined for 15 shots, with American leading that department, 9-6. Bishop and his counterpart, American's Michael Behonick, each made three saves on the day.
Both teams have already qualified for the upcoming Patriot League Tournament, to be held at Holy Cross, Nov. 16-18. These teams will meet again in the first round of the tournament, although seeding between the No. 2 and No. 3 slots is to be determined.
American returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 6, when it hosts former Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) rival and 25th ranked William & Mary at 2:00 p.m. The Eagles then conclude its regular season with a date against Colgate on Saturday, Nov. 10, at 2:00 p.m. at Reeves Field.
