WASHINGTON - The American University field hockey team (8-4, 3-0 PL) continued to show its depth, as four Eagles contributed to the team's 4-1 win over VCU (5-7, 3-2 A-10) on Sunday. This is the fifth straight win for AU as the Eagles sit alongside Lafayette as the only two undefeated teams in the Patriot League.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Juniors Gaby de Kock and Noor Coenen, and sophomores Atina Pagani and Hannah Moser pitched in a goal each while Coenen also picked up the day's only assist.
• Freshman goalkeeper Fiona Minter had one of her best performances in goal of the season, nearly earning her second shutout of the season while walking away with six saves.
• It was a midfield battle for much of the first quarter, with the Eagles only putting up one shot while holding VCU to only two. A late penalty corner for AU almost turned the tide, but the shot from Coenen was saved by the Rams' freshman goalkeeper, Cailin Bownas, and the two teams entered the break locked up at 0-0.
• The Eagles took control of the tempo early in the second quarter, drawing their second penalty corner opportunity of the game within the first three minutes. Sophomore Maura Phelan's shot was saved, but de Kock immediately pressured the cage after the insertion and put away the rebound off the keeper for her third goal of the season.
• VCU followed up with a couple of good looks, but clutch saves from Minter maintained the Eagles' advantage as they headed into halftime at 1-0.
• Another early goal, this time in the third quarter, bumped AU's lead up to 2-0. A long inbound pass from Coenen from beyond the half found sophomore Atina Pagani behind VCU's defensive line with only the keeper to beat which she did with a nice backhanded shot into the far post. 
• American continued pressuring the Rams over the next 13 minutes, putting up three shots and earning two penalty corner opportunities, but it wasn't until the third minute in the fourth quarter that the Eagles were able to find the back of the net once more.
• This time, it was Coenen who picked up her ninth goal of the season after she slammed home a hard shot from just inside the circle into the right post to give AU a 3-0 lead.
• Sophomore Hannah Moser followed up with her fourth goal of the season, taking another long pass from Coenen and beating the oncoming goalkeeper to hit one into the open cage.
• VCU had the last say, but it was too little too late as Emily Van Hijfte capitalized on a defensive misplay to put the Rams on the board with only seven seconds remaining in the game.
• The Eagles led VCU in shots, 11-10, and penalty corners, 6-2.

NEXT UP
American will continue Patriot League play the next two weekends wth road trips to defending PL champion Boston University on Saturday, Oct. 19, and Colgate on Saturday, Oct. 26. AU will close its season at home with a 3 p.m. start against local rival Maryland on Tuesday, Oct. 29, followed by Lafayette at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2. The Eagles will celebrate its two graduating seniors, Caroline Miller and Jette Dieckmann, on Nov. 2 before facing the Leopards.

For the latest on American University Field Hockey, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_FieldHockey) and Instagram (@aufieldhockey).