Nov. 14, 2004

WASHINGTON - Sophomore Garth Juckem (Tampa, Fla./ Tampa Jesuit) scored the only goal of the game less than 70 seconds into overtime to give the American University Eagles a 1-0 win over Lehigh and the Patriot League Championship. The Eagles are now in the NCAAs and will find out on Monday their next opponent.

"This victory started at 5:45 am last year on the day of the 2003 Patriot League Championship," said American University head coach Todd West. "Since we did not make the PL tourney in 2003, we started our work for 2004 on that morning. I could not be any prouder of our six seniors for getting into the NCAAs three times in four years."

American dominated the game offensively as they outshot the Mountain Hawks 22-7 for the game (12-4 in the second half). Juckem took four shots while sophomores Sal Caccavale (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) and Nigel White (Kensington, Md./ Bethesda-Chevy Chase) both got off four shots. Senior Sean Albright (Philadelphia, Pa./William Penn) took three shots, all on goal, and came very close to scoring with a header in the second half.

Thomas Myers notched his eighth shutout of the year and second one in the tournament. He finished with three saves and faced seven shots.

Juckem's goal was assisted by senior Shawn Kuykendall (Fairfax, Va./ Madison). It was his 21st point of the season. Kuykendall almost scored earlier in the game but was taken down from behind when he was 15 yards from the goal.

Lehigh goalie Charlie Sales was spectacular in goal, registering 12 saves.

American is now 14-5-2 and will find out on Monday who and where they will be playing in the first round of the NCAAs.