Reigning Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Friederike Engel gave the American University women's soccer team a second-half lead on Friday afternoon against Lafayette, but the Eagles were unable to hang on in a 1-1 double overtime draw at Reeves Field.

Each team generated few scoring chances in the opening half, as each side registered only four shots. The best scoring chance in the 45 minutes came when Lafayette's Allison Stone fired a shot from straight-on, which appeared to have a chance of finding the back of the net. But Engel was there for American (5-10-2, 1-2-2 PL) to record the athletic blocked shot and keep the match scoreless.

The action opened up considerably in the second half, as American generated two corner kicks in the first 10 minutes. On the second opportunity, Brooke Sheppard's cross was perfectly placed to the far post, where Engel was able to break loose from the Lafayette defenders to put in the close-range shot, giving AU a 1-0 advantage. For Sheppard, the assist was the 11th of her career, which moves her into a tie for seventh place in program history.

Facing a 1-0 deficit, Lafayette (6-7-3, 0-2-3 PL) battled back with the equalizer in the 66th minute. Gina Milone set the score up when she found Elizabeth Cole, who was able to slide her low shot to the left of a diving Lindsey Farthing.

The offenses slowed down through the end of regulation, as the score remained tied at one, sending the match into sudden victory overtime. In the first OT period, American earned the best scoring chance of the extra time when Sheppard controlled a loose ball in front of the Lafayette net, but pushed a point-blank shot just high and wide right of the goal. The Eagles generated two more shots in the second overtime session, but had to settle for the 1-1 draw.

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The two teams each recorded nine shots during regulation, but American outshot the Leopards 5-1 in the two overtime periods. For the match, AU registered seven shots on goal compared to five for Lafayette. In goal, Farthing registered four saves for the Eagles, and allowed just her third score in the last five games.

"I thought we did a better job at moving the ball in the second half, which resulted in the goal by Fri," Head Coach Dave Bucciero said following the match. "After Lafayette's goal to tie it, I thought we controlled the game, but what hurt us was not being able to generate offense and be more dynamic in our attack. We will need to regroup and come out with more energy on Sunday against Lehigh."

The Eagles will conclude the home slate of their season when they host the Mountain Hawks on Sunday, October 24 at 1 p.m. Prior to the match, AU's three senior student-athletes – Engel, Farthing and Sheppard – will be honored in a pre-match ceremony. Like all AU women's soccer home matches, Sunday's contest will be broadcast live on Eagles Vision TV, part of AUeagles.com.