The #15 American University field hockey team suffered its first loss of the season Sunday afternoon, falling to #16 Old Dominion, 2-1, at Jacobs Field. Christine Fingerhuth scored her first goal of the season in the second half to cut a 2-0 Old Dominion lead in half but the Eagles were unable to complete the comeback down the stretch.

American (1-1) earned the game's first scoring opportunity minutes into the action as Melissa Casale forced an Old Dominion turnover near midfield. Casale sent her pass upfield to Fingerhuth who drove the ball into the circle along the right baseline. Her crossing pass, however, failed to find a teammates stick and went out of play, ending the scoring chance.

Old Dominion had two opportunities minutes later off penalty corners but American's defense stood tall, blocking the Monarch's first attempt and forcing the shot on the second to be sent wide. The Eagles responded at the other end of the field as Lotte van de Mierop found Fingerhuth in the middle of the circle for a reverse stick shot which sailed high of the goal, preserving the 0-0 tie.

Old Dominion ended the scoring drought in the 21^st minute, earning a penalty stroke after a Julie Hodge shot hit an American defender at the goal line. The resulting stroke was good, putting the Monarchs on top, 1-0. Old Dominion added a second goal three minutes later when Kathryn Kirk connected with Anna Kern at the right post.

Shay Smith drew a penalty corner for American with time winding down in the first half, giving the Eagles one final opportunity to get on the scoreboard. During the play American earned a second penalty corner as the ball went off an Old Dominion foot but Constanza Palma's resulting shot went wide of the goal, ending the half in favor of the Monarchs, 2-0.

American broke through with its first goal in the 63^rd minute, cutting Old Dominion's lead to 2-1. Casale began the scoring sequence with a drive into the circle before dumping the ball off to Fingerhuth. Fingerhuth then drove through her defender and fired a shot from the top of the circle that found the back of the cage at the left post.

Old Dominion was able to control the ball for the remaining seven minutes of play, however, putting an end to American's comeback attempt.

"I think we can take away [from today's game] that we are a great team when we put our best foot forward," Head Coach Steve Jennings commented during his live postgame interview with Eagles Vision TV. "We also learned that we are fighters and we are never going to quit … we fixed our defense [in the second half], especially in the midfield which allowed us to get the right amount of pressure on their buildup. In turn that got us a lot of turnovers and really was a spark for our offense. I think we played a little bit tentative in the beginning of the match and that really helped us to turn it around."

Casale's goal was her second of the season while Fingerhuth's assist was her first. Casale, Gina Hofmann and Palma each recorded two shots on the day, helping American to a 9-6 advantage in shots. Hannah Weitzman allowed one goal while making one save in the cage for the Eagles as Ashley Dalisera was inserted to defend Old Dominion's penalty stroke. American also held a 7-5 advantage in penalty corners and did not allow a shot to Old Dominion the entire second half.

American will return to action on Sunday, September 5, against #13 Louisville at 11:30 a.m. in Harrisonburg, Va., on the campus of James Madison University.