The #20 American University field hockey team lost to #1 Maryland Tuesday afternoon, 3-0, at Jacobs Field. The Eagles trailed by only a single goal at the intermission but two second-half goals scored by the Terps put the game out of reach.

Maryland (11-0, 2-0) scored its first goal just 1:41 into the action as Katie O'Donnell drove the ball from the right side of the circle in front of the cage and snuck a shot past goalkeeper Alyssa Poorman to take a 1-0 lead. American (4-5) settled into the action after the score though and challenged the defending national champions evenly for the remainder of the half. The Eagles nearly tied the score in the 14^th minute off one of their three penalty corners of the frame. On the play, Anne van Erp inserted the corner to Kirsten Gebhart at the top of the circle. Gebhart passed the ball off to Anne-Meike de Wiljes who sent a pass to the left baseline where van Erp was awaiting the pass behind the Maryland defense. De Wiljes's pass, however, took a wild bound before reaching van Erp and passed harmlessly over the junior's stick and out of play.

Poorman was solid in goal for the Eagles following the first score and made two quality plays to eliminate Maryland scoring opportunities and keep the game at 1-0 heading into the half. Midway through the half she rushed out of the cage to stop a Megan Frazer drive on the left baseline and drew a foul on the Terrapin to force a turnover. Later, Poorman negated a Maryland penalty corner as she made a diving save on an Emma Thomas shot from the top of the circle.

American again put itself in position to even the score with a penalty corner in the 46^th minute. De Wiljes's shot from the top of the circle was saved by Maryland goalkeeper Alicia Grater though and sent out of the circle to quiet the rush. 10 minutes later it was the Terrapins on the offensive as Maryland drew a penalty stroke following a Thomas shot off a penalty corner. Gebhart made a defensive save on the shot but the officials ruled that the ball had touched her body before she sent it out of the circle. Thomas converted on the stroke, giving Maryland a 2-0 advantage.

Maryland added a third goal in the 69^th minute as Thomas connected on a penalty corner to give the Terrapins the final 3-0 margin.

"I think we had a lot of heart and determination out there on the field today," Head Coach Steve Jennings commented following the game. "It was really unfortunate that we allowed ourselves to start slowly and gave them a goal that was a little bit soft from our standards. But from that point on until the penalty stroke call I think we played some great hockey and I think our kids were really special today."

American earned five penalty corners to Maryland's four but the Terps outshot the Eagles by a margin of 13-4. De Wiljes and Christine Fingerhuth each recorded two shots with de Wiljes putting one on goal. Poorman made two saves in the cage.

American will begin conference play this weekend in search of its seventh consecutive Patriot League Championship on the road at Holy Cross. Game time is set for 12 p.m.