The American University field hockey team improved its unbeaten streak against Patriot League opponents to 46 games on Saturday, going on the road to defeat Bucknell, 3-0. American's three leading goal scorers, Christine Fingerhuth, Savannah Graybill and Melissa Casale, each scored an unassisted goal in the victory while goalkeeper Alyssa Poorman recorded her 17^th career shutout.

Fingerhuth began the scoring action early, tallying her seventh goal of the season just 3:01 into the first half. The junior received a pass from Anne van Erp and drove the ball in from the endline for a one-time sweep to the far post, putting American (7-6, 3-0) on top, 1-0. Graybill added her seventh score of the season in the 25^th minute, converting off a failed Bison clear attempt with a low hard shot to the far post to give the Eagles a 2-0 advantage before the intermission.

Bucknell (8-6, 2-1) earned the first scoring opportunity of the second half but Poorman was able to turn Mallory Smith's shot away to preserve American's two-goal lead. After firing four shots which failed to hit the mark, the Eagles took a 3-0 lead on Casale's sixth goal in the 68^th minute. The sophomore beat her defender and sent centering cross towards the cage for an awaiting Fingerhuth. The ball, however, hit a Bucknell defender en route and was redirected into the cage, giving American its final margin.

"Bucknell is a great team and they played a very strong defensive game today," Head Coach Steve Jennings commented following the victory. "Both teams played good in between the 25's and it became a bit of a battle of the midfields. We were fortunate to score on our chances when we did. I am really happy with our team and the way we played today, keeping ourselves in the driver's seat for the Patriot League Regular Season Championship. Now its time to go back to work and prepare for Wednesday's game against Georgetown."

Graybill's goal moved her into a tie for ninth place on American's career points list and a tie for eighth on AU's career goals list. The senior has 79 career points and 35 career goals. Poorman's 17 shutouts are second best in program history and ranks her fourth all-time in the Patriot League.

American's defense once again made a strong showing, allowing the Bucknell offense to take just three shots with only one going on goal. The Eagles outshot the Bison by a margin of 7-3 for the game and held a 5-2 advantage in penalty corners.

The Eagles will return to the turf on Wednesday, October 21, when they host local foe Georgetown at 3 p.m. on Jacobs Field. The game can be seen live on the new Eagles Vision TV channel, featuring multiple camera angles, a live scoreboard and analysis from a studio broadcast team and sideline reporters. To sign up for Eagles Vision TV today, click here.