The American University field hockey team combined a strong offense effort with sterling defense en route to a 5-0 win at Holy Cross in both team's Patriot League Opener on Saturday. Five different Eagles scored in the victory as American ran its consecutive wins streak against Patriot League opponents to 44 games.

American (5-5, 1-0) struck first in the eighth minute to take an early 1-0 advantage. On the play, Melissa Casale sent a centering pass from the right baseline in front of the goal where Christine Fingerhuth was able to put a one-timer into the cage.  The tally was Fingerhuth's team-leading fifth of the season.  The Eagles would add another score just before the end of the first half when Emily Stovicek scored her second goal of year on a baseline drive. Shay Smith found the streaking Stovicek and was credited with an assist on the play.

Despite the score differential, Holy Cross was able to mount an aggressive counter attack to pressure the Eagles. American's defense, however, held firm and allowed just one Crusader shot in the half as it defended well against the injection.

The Eagles quickly took control of play and padded their lead over Holy Cross (2-9, 0-1) after the intermission as Savannah Graybill scored her fifth goal of the campaign just over one minute into the action, tying her with Fingerhuth for the team lead. Graybill received a short pass from Anne van Erp and dribbled the ball in front of the cage where she was met by a charging Kelly Casey coming out of the cage. The senior was able to tip the ball over Casey though and into the cage for a brilliant score.

Kirstin Gebhart moved the score to 4-0 eight minutes later as she scored an unassisted goal on a reverse stick shot to the top of the cage. The score was Gebhart's first of the year. Casale capped off the scoring in the 64th minute with her third goal of the season. The play began with a Fingerhuth shot which was deflected up into the air by a Crusader defender. Casale was in position to knock the ball out of the air and into the cage, giving American the final 5-0 margin.

Gebhart led the team with five shots, putting four on goal, while freshman Kelsey Davis added three shots, all of which went on goal.  The American defense held strong all day, propelling the Eagles to a 15-2 advantage in shots and a 5-1 advantage in penalty corners.  Senior Alyssa Poorman made one save while playing all 70 minute en route to her second shutout of the year.

Graybill is now tied for 12th in career points at American with 75 and tied for ninth in goals with 33. Fingerhuth's 61 career points are the 16th best total in program history while Poorman's 16 career shutouts is second best at American.

"We are very happy with this start to the league campaign," Volunteer Assistant Coach Nate Franks stated after the game. "Holy Cross was very dangerous on the counter attack but our defense did a great job of controlling them. Our offense did a very good job of taking care of the details and finishing when it had the opportunity. Now we turn our attention to our conference home opener on Saturday against Colgate."

American returns to action on Saturday, October 10, as Colgate visits Jacobs Field at 12 p.m. The game can be seen live on the new Eagles Vision TV channel featuring multiple camera angles, a live scoreboard and anlysis from a studio broadcast team and sideline reporters. To sign up for Eagles Vision TV, click here.