Aug. 31, 2008
WASHINGTON - The No. 15 American University field hockey team defeated No. 19 Albany on Sunday, 2-0, to claim the first AU Invitational Championship at Jacobs Field. Kirstin Gebhart scored the Eagles first goal of the day early in the second half and an Emily Stovicek goal late secured the victory. Goalkeeper Alyssa Poorman stopped seven Albany shots for her second-consecutive shutout.
Albany controlled the ball for much of the first half and limited American's offensive opportunities early. The Eagles were held without a shot until an Anne-Meike DeWiljes blast with 9:29 remaining but that was blocked by a Great Dane defender. AU's offense was lifted in the period by tremendous defensive effort put forth by Poorman in goal. The junior stopped six shots in the half and negated two Albany penalty corners.
American's offensive found its stride in the second half. After taking just three shots in the first period, AU totaled nine in the second and put six on goal including two scores. The Eagles' first goal came quickly in the frame, as Gebhart notched her first of the season at the 47:05 mark off a rebound from a penalty corner. Irene Schickhardt inserted the corner and the ball was left to Christine Fingerhuth who put a shot on net that was saved. The ball bounced away from Albany's goalkeeper, Ashley Ross, in front of the net where Gebhart picked it up and poked it in.
AU struck again late in the half as Stovicek netted her team-high second goal of the season at 54:59. Fingerhuth found herself in the middle of the scoring action again as she pressured an Albany defender into making a poor pass which was picked off by Schickhardt. Schickhardt drove the ball to the left baseline and sent a centering pass into the circle that deflected off Fingerhuth to Stovicek who beat Ross to her right. After their second score the Eagles packed their defenders back in their own zone and ran out the remaining time on the clock to preserve the 2-0 lead.
"I am proud of our kids for taking this huge win," head coach Steve Jennings said. "Albany is a great team and gave us a lot of problems in the first half. We made some changes during halftime though and went to work in the second and got it done."
Gebhart's game-winning goal was her first of the season and came unassisted. Stovicek's score was her second on the year as Fingerhuth picked up her first assist. Poorman made seven saves on the day including six in the first half to pick up her second shutout of the year.
American will return to action next weekend as it travels to Iowa City, Iowa, for two matches. The Eagles will first take to the turf on Friday, Sept. 5, against Iowa at 4 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 6, AU will return to the field to take on Duke at 3 p.m.
