WASHINGTON - Junior Noor Coenen left no question as to why she was selected as the 2019 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year on Friday, as she led the American University field hockey team (12-5, 6-0 PL) to a dominant 5-1 victory over Holy Cross (6-12, 2-4 PL) during the Patriot League semifinal at Jacobs Complex. The top-seeded Eagles will be back at Jacobs at 12:05 p.m. on Sunday to face off against No. 2 Lafayette (12-7, 5-1 PL) for the Patriot League crown and berth into the NCAA Tournament.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Eagles controlled play early, picking up back-to-back penalty corners within the first minute of play. Coenen put AU on the board off the second corner attempt after slamming a hard shot off an insertion from junior Gaby de Kock and assist from junior Lauren Fredricks.
• The Naarden, Netherlands, native put her second goal away only four minutes later, knocking in a low shot after a long run from across the top of the circle. She completed the hat trick within the first four minutes of the second quarter, taking another assist from Fredricks and knocking in the low shot past the Crusaders' keeper.
• Her third hat trick of the season, Coenen also bested her previous season-record of 15 goals with 17. She also owns a new career-high 40 points on the season, and bumps up to No. 7 in the AU record books for single-season points, and No. 6 for single-season goals. She also moves into the No. 10 slot for career points (97) and No. 6 for career goals (41).
• It was a defensive battle for the remainder of the half, but neither team was able to get another shot off and headed into the break with the 3-0 score.
• Holy Cross picked up the tempo in the early minutes of the second half as Kristen Weber put the Crusaders on the board with a deflection after a penalty corner shot from Madeline Alderfer. 
• American continued to spread the gap in the final 10 minutes as sophomores Aidan Rossman and Georgia Davies both added their names to the score sheet. 
• Rossman picked up a long cross from freshman Abby Kreider in front of goal and placed a hard shot into the low corner.
• Davies capitalized off the team's fifth penalty corner attempt, deflecting in the shot from freshman Charllene Boshoff.
• AU led Holy Cross in shots, 10-2, and penalty corners, 6-1.

UP NEXT
It will be a rematch between the top two teams in the league for the Patriot League title on Sunday after No. 2 Lafayette picked up the late 1-0 victory over No. 3 Bucknell on Friday. The Eagles and Leopards faced off only last weekend to decide the regular-season title, with American coming away with the crown after an early goal from sophomore Hannah Moser and a shutout performance from senior goalkeeper Caroline Miller.

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

PATRIOT LEAGUE TOURNAMENT TICKETS
General Admission Tickets for the Patriot League Championship Tournament are available at the Jacobs Complex the day of the event.  Gates open at 10:30am on Friday, and 11am on Sunday.  Cash and credit will be accepted.

• Patriot League Semifinals – Day Pass   
  • Adult – General Admission: $8.00
  • Youth (17 & below) / Senior (65+) – General Admission: $5.00
• Patriot League Championship   
  • Adult – General Admission: $8.00
  • Youth (17 & below) / Senior (65+) – General Admission: $5.00
• AU Students, and students of visiting participating institutions   
  • Free admission with valid and current student ID