Nov. 12, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - American University improved to 20-1 overall and more importantly, stayed alive in the NCAA Tournament with a 3-2 win over Penn State today at the University of Maryland Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.
The Eagles clung to a 3-2 lead very late in the game and was able to fend off two consecutive Nittany Lion penalty corners with no time remaining on the clock to advance to the Second Round of the 2005 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Tournament.
Down by a 2-1 margin to start the second frame, Penn State earned two straight corners within the first four minutes but were unable to get a goal as Eagle goaltender Allison Fayfich (Wexford, Pa./N. Allegheny) stacked the pads to make a clutch save on the only shot on goal. Senior captain Javiera Villagra (Santiago, Chile/Santiago) gave the Eagles a 3-1 lead at the 24:16 mark when she deflected a Camila Infate (Santiago, Chile/Santiago) shot into the Penn State goal. Penn State cut the lead to one with 3:25 left in the game after Shaun Banta knocked in a rebound to put her team back 3-2.
With less than two minutes to play in regulation, the Nittany Lions did not quit, earning a penalty corner with no time left on the clock. After the first attempt ended with what appeared to be a shot that hit a Penn State player, the AU bench emptied but the refs called another penalty corner. After the field was cleared, the second corner attempt began with a flaming shot that Fayfich got her blocker on and the AU defenders cleared the ball out of the circle to end the game.
Penn State got on the board first in the 15th minute when Nittany Lion Natalie Berrena blasted a shot from 16 yards out that deflected off an AU defender and in. After a failed penalty corner attempt, AU scored the equalizer just five minutes later when Hall deflected a Denise Infante long hit past Megan Akstin. AU's Camila Infante gave the Eagles a 2-1 lead with less than four minutes to play in the half on a successful penalty shot in which she went low and to the left. American was awarded the shot after a Penn State player kicked the ball on a shot that was destined for the back of the goal.
AU pressured the Nittany Lions early in the first half, registering two shots and one near breakaway in the first 10 minutes of play. With 17 minutes remaining in the half AU got a three-on-two breakaway led by Schickhardt who fed the ball to the left to a streaking Hershberger who fired the ball right into the Penn State goalie. American held a 10-3 advantage in shots, forcing Akstin to make five saves.
"I thought it was an extremely hard fought game by both teams," said AU head coach Steve Jennings. "Penn State is an excellent team and we had to fight the entire match to come out on top."
Fayfich ended with three saves on the day as AU outshot Penn State 15-12. Akstin finished with seven saves on the day. Penn State held a 6-5 advantage in penalty corners.
American will face a familiar foe in Maryland tomorrow, after the top-ranked team in the country downed Richmond 4-0 earlier today. Last season the two teams met in the exact same circumstances but the Eagles hopes of a Final Four appearance were dashed after a 2-0 loss. The Terps and sixth-ranked Eagles will play at 2 p.m. at UMD's Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex. Fans who cannot attend can listen to a live broadcast via www.AUEagles.com and follow along the action with gametracker thru www.umterps.com
