After playing through regulation and two overtime periods, the #19 American University field hockey team fell just short of an upset at #13 James Madison on Sunday as the Dukes edged the Eagles, 3-2, in a stroke-off. Christine Fingerhuth scored two goals to give American a 2-0 lead early in the second half but two late scores by JMU sent the match into overtime.

Fingerhuth's first tally came just 2:11 into the action as she picked up a loose ball in front of the cage and put it home to give American a 1-0 lead. The score would remain the same for the remainder of the half despite the Eagles holding a 7-1 advantage over JMU in shots and a 4-2 advantage in penalty corners.

It was Fingerhuth again providing the offense for the Eagles as she scored her second of the afternoon 54 seconds into the second half to give American a 2-0 lead. The junior received a pass from Melissa Casale at the upper right corner of the striking circle and fired a sensational shot past JMU goalkeeper Kelsey Cutchins for the score.

The Dukes turned up their intensity as time wound down in regulation, scoring two goals in the final 10-plus minutes to force overtime. Dolores Rooij scored first for JMU on an open look from the upper left of the circle and Lindsay Cutchins added the equalizer minutes later on a shot which found the left hand side of the cage off a penalty corner. James Madison threatened once more with a penalty corner in the 68^th minute but Rooij's shot was blocked by an American defender, sending the match into overtime.

American got four shots off in the first overtime period, including three which went on goal, but could not manage to get the ball past Cutchins in goal. Fingerhuth put two shots on goal in the 74^th minute, the second off her own rebound, and Casale fired the third. American's Alyssa Poorman made one save in the period, erasing a Rooij attempt to end the game in the 76^th minute.

The Eagles continued to pressure James Madison's circle in the second overtime and took three shots, with two on goal, but to no avail. American's best chance to end the match came with time expired as Anne-Meike de Wiljes put two shots on goal off of penalty corners. Cutchins continued her strong play however and made saves on both attempts to force a stroke-off.

Fingerhuth and Tatum Dyer registered scores in American's first two rounds of the stroke-off but they were matched by goals scored by Tori Lindsey and Rooij. JMU took advantage of an American miss in the third round to take a 3-2 lead in strokes and was perfect down the stretch, negating a goal scored by Kirstin Gebhart, to steal the victory, 3-2.

"We played a great team in James Madison today and overall we had a strong performance," Head Coach Steve Jennings commented. "We are disappointed that we couldn't hold onto our two-goal lead but they scored two brilliant goals to force the game into overtime and it was anybody's game at that point. I was really proud of our team for how hard we fought and the chances we created. Unfortunately, in the stroke-off it can go either way and today it went James Madison's way. We have a lot we can learn from today and a lot to build on."

Fingerhuth's two goals were her third and fourth on the year, respectively, while Casale's assist on the second goal was her second of the season. Fingerhuth's scores push her career points total to 58, ranking her 17^th all-time at American. Poorman recorded three saves in goal for the Eagles while playing all 100 minutes of the contest.

American will return to action on Sunday, Sept. 27, in the team's third annual 'Phil Jacobs' match against 2008 NCAA Runner-Up Wake Forest at 1 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.