WASHINGTON - The American University field hockey team (7-3, 3-0 PL) now stands alone as the only remaining undefeated team in the Patriot League after a 2-0 shutout at Lehigh on Saturday. 

HEAR FROM COACH JENNINGS...
"We are very proud of the shutout win against a Lehigh team that has been playing great hockey. It took us a while to get going but we made progress in each quarter and came away with a critical road victory. It will be important for us to continue to build momentum for our late season push."

NOTEWORTHY

• There was a lot on the line during the Saturday matinee, as both teams entered the weekend undefeated in conference play. With only three games remaining in regular season conference play, the Eagles will look to hold on to their No. 1 spot and the right to host the Patriot League Tournament in November.
• Senior Hannah Moser opened scoring early in the fourth quarter with her first goal of the season. Junior Merel Dupont put away her third of the year later in the stanza to give the Eagles a 2-0 cushion in the final minutes. Gaby de Kock and Noor Coenen pitched in an assist each.
• Sophomore goalkeeper Bryn Underwood earned her third shutout of the season with three saves.
• By the final whistle, AU dominated the stat sheet with 14 shots to Lehigh's five, and three penalty corners to Lehigh's one.
• Lehigh goalkeeper Maddie Kahn earned seven saves on the day, including five in the second quarter as the AU offense took control of the game.
• With this win, American retains its perfect record against Lehigh. The Eagles are now 24-0 in its series against the Mountain Hawks.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Eagles' defensive line was put to the test early, as the Lehigh offense came out strong, posting all five of their shots on the day in the first 15 minutes. Underwood picked up saves on three, including one late in the stanza as the Mountain Hawks' Drew Pecora and MJ Schwab broke through AU's back line for a dangerous look, forcing Underwood to make the tackle off her line.
• Coenen took it down to the other end as the seconds ticked down in the first quarter, nearly getting a clean look at goal before Lehigh's defensive unit regained control.
• The Mountain Hawks struggled to find their footing in the second quarter as the Eagles took over. American put up six shots, including a couple quick attempts by senior Aidan Rossman and sophomore Imogen Hatton midway through the quarter, but Kahn came up with five clutch saves to keep the teams even at 0-0 heading into halftime.
• AU continued to push in the third quarter, but couldn't quite get the clean looks they needed. Four Eagles put up shots with Rossman, de Kock, sophomore Emily Horace, and junior Charllene Boshoff, but Kahn came up with one stop and the Mountain Hawks' defense came away with two more, including a defensive save from Leah Mullery.
• In the fourth minute of the fourth quarter, de Kock picked off a stray pass just inside the 25-yard line. One-on-one with the oncoming Kahn, she quickly slid the ball over to Moser who took advantage of the empty net to five AU the 1-0 lead.
•  Dupont solidified the Eagles' win four minutes later, redirecting the ball in from Coenen after Americans' third and final corner of the day.

UP NEXT...

• American will return to Jacobs next weekend for the final two home games of the regular season. The Eagles will open at 11 a.m. on Saturday against Holy Cross before welcoming Cornell at 1 p.m. on Sunday for the team's Senior Day celebration.

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