Oct. 17, 2007
WASHINGTON - After outshooting the hosts 22-10 and holding the 17-6 advantage in penalty corners, persistence paid off as No. 17 American University field hockey came from behind and defeated Towson University, 4-3, in overtime on Wednesday night at Villa Julie College Field.
Holding a 2-1 lead over American to start the second half, Towson struck first in the final frame, with Gabby Mink netting her second goal of the game to extend Towson's lead to two. In the 49th minute, Denise Infante answered for the Eagles, scoring off a penalty corner, with Irene Schickhardt and Anne-Meike De Wiljes being credited with the assists. Just two minutes later, freshman Christine Fingerhuth won a scramble in front of the goal and put away her second goal of the night, sending the game into overtime.
The Eagles ended the game in the 81st minute, with Infante striking again. De Wiljes sent a pass from the right side of the circle, finding Infante open in the center. Known for her rocket shot, the Santiago, Chile, native hit just that and led American University to its 12th win of the season. Infante leads American University with 25 points, combining nine goals with seven assists.
After struggling in the first half, AU dominated in the second. The Eagles outshot the Tigers 13-3 in the final frame and outcornered Towson 10-2. American carried this momentum into overtime and came out with its second overtime win of the season.
"We had a number of defensive breakdowns in the first half which led us to be down by a goal going into the second," said Associate Head Coach Sarah Krombolz. "The true character of our team shined through in the second half and in overtime, with the amount of energy and effort each individual put in reflecting in the comeback."
Towson's Angie Brewer scored 13 minutes into game to give the Tigers an early lead. Fingerhuth was there to answer for the Eagles, but just minutes before halftime, Mink notched her first of two goals on the night to give the hosts the one-goal advantage at the half.
American University women's field hockey improves to 12-4-0 on the season and returns to action at the William I Jacobs Recreational Complex this weekend. The Eagles host Lehigh at 2 p.m. in their final regular-season home game. Celebrating senior day, American will honor Ashley Foley, Maggie Hall and Infante.
