The American University field hockey team overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit by scoring three times in the second half and then held off Temple in the final minutes for a 3-2 victory Sunday at Jacobs Field.

Temple (3-9) got the scoring started in the third minute when Caryn Lambright beat American goalkeeper Ashley Dalisera with a deflection at the far post to make the score 1-0.  Despite numerous offensive chances for American (5-5), the score would stay 1-0 for the entire half as the Eagles were unable to get on the scoreboard despite a 9-2 advantage in shots and a 5-2 margin in penalty corners in the first half.

American came out strong after the intermission as the Eagles intensified the offensive attack. In the 44th minute, Jaclyn Anspach recorded the equalizer for AU as she registered a deflection in front of the cage off of a Jenn Bradley shot from the top of the circle.  Anspach's goal, her second of the season, evened the score at one.

The match would remain tied until Tatum Dyer pushed American ahead, converting a penalty stroke at 55:04 to give American its first lead of the afternoon. The goal was Dyer's first tally in her career for the Eagles and was the first stroke converted by American in 2011.

Four minutes later, Canon Hirschler struck for a goal of her own to push the Eagles lead to two at 3-1. The play was setup when Bradley launched a shot from the top of the circle that was saved by Owl goalkeeper Lizzy Mullen. But Hirschler was there to clean up the rebound, burying the ball in the cage to provide an insurance goal.

Temple would draw within one as Amber Youtz was able to convert a deflection into the cage at the far post on an Owl penalty corner to trim the Eagles lead to 3-2 with 1:58 left in the contest, but that was as close as Temple get. The Owls then pulled GK Mullen for the game's final 110 seconds, but despite having chances in the frantic final few seconds, American was up to the task in the defensive third.

The Eagles outshot the Owls on the afternoon, 20-3, and held an 11-3 advantage in penalty corners.  In addition to her assist, Bradley led the Eagles with five shots attempted, while Anspach garnered four.  Dalisera played all 70 minutes in cage for the Eagles recording the win, the third straight victory for the sophomore.

American returns to action this Saturday, October 8 as the Eagles travel to Worcester, Mass., for a Patriot League contest against Holy Cross.  American is next in action at Jacobs Field on Saturday, October 15, versus Colgate.