The American University field hockey team used a seven-goal burst in the second half -- a new program record for goals in a half -- to cruise to an 8-1 victory over Colgate Saturday afternoon at Jacobs Field.  The eight goals for the Eagles was their highest scoring output of the season, and the most goals scored by American since a 9-0 shutout win last season at Lehigh.

Gina Hofmann garnered the first tally of the afternoon at the 13:19 mark of the first half for American (7-4, 3-0 PL). The score came on a straight shot from the top of the circle off of a penalty corner. Both teams traded possession for the final 20 minutes of the first half, but neither was able to find the cage. The Eagles carried a 1-0 lead into intermission with an 8-1 advantage in shots.

American came out fast to start the second half as Jaclyn Anspach extended the Eagles' lead to 2-0 when she cleaned up an Alex McMackin shot just in the 45th minute. Five minutes later, Grace Wilson played a long pass down the right sideline to find McMackin in front of the cage as she upped the American lead to 3-0.

The Eagles would continue to pressure Colgate in the defensive third and maintain a decisive advantage in ball possession as the second half continued. This resulted in an opportunity for Canon Hirschler, who played a reverse-stick shot at the near post into the cage and gave American a 4-0 lead.  Tatum Dyer continued the offensive barrage, converting a penalty stroke at 54:28 to make it 5-0 following a foul called on Colgate goalkeeper Amanda DiDomizio as she came out of the cage to play a loose ball in the circle.

Meredith Gibson got Colgate (5-9, 0-3 PL) on the scoreboard on a breakway down the far sideline, beating Eagles goalkeeper Ashley Dalisera with a chip shot from just inside the right of the circle.  American, however, quickly responded when Wilson played a ball passed from Hirschler to knock home the score. Melissa Casale would get in on the scoring less than a minute later, smacking a shot past new Colgate goalkeeper Caitlin Zolet for the 7-1 lead in the 64th minute.

A second penalty stroke for Dyer pushed the score to 8-1 in the game's final minutes.  The goal was Dyer's second of the afternoon, marking her second two-goal effort in as many games. The senior defender had never registered a goal in 75 career starts as an Eagle prior to the Temple match on October 2, but has five tallies over the last three contests. Dyer also dished out two assists and her six-point day sets a new career-high.

In addition to Dyer's six-point afternoon, Hirschler and Wilson each registered a career-high three points on a goal and an assist. Wilson had previously recorded three points on one other occasion this season, which came in AU's win over Penn on September 2.  

The Eagles outshot Colgate by a 28-5 margin in the contest, including a 15-5 advantage in shots on goal. AU generated 10 penalty corners compared to five for the Raiders.

American returns to action tomorrow, October 16 when the Eagles play host to defending national champion Maryland at Jacobs Field. Gametime between the American and the third-ranked Terrapins is set for 2:00 p.m. A live video broadcast will be available on Eagles Vision TV.