WASHINGTON - The American University lacrosse team surged to a late lead but couldn't quite keep pace as the Eagles dropped their 2021 home opener against crosstown rival George Washington on Wednesday, 17-16.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Seniors Casey Harkins and Emma Vinall led the team with five goals each, and Harkins added an assist for a team-high six points on the day. Senior Erica Skowron and junior Stefanie Walsh ended with two goals apiece while senior Kendall Goldblum and freshman Regan Hakes added one each.
• Goldblum also added an assist on the day, along with Skowron and freshman Lizzie de Guzman. 
• Vinall led the Eagles with six draw controls.
• Senior goalkeeper Delaney Oliveira ended the day with a massive career record, pulling down 13 saves and grabbing a team-high five ground balls.
• Eight players landed in the scoresheet for the Colonials, starting with five goals from Ionna Mantzouratos. Maddie O'Brien pitched in a game-high four assists.
• Megan Patrick put in a full 60 minutes in net and came away with 11 saves.
• GW held the advantage in ground balls, 18-16, draw controls, 21-14, and shots, 42-30. The Eagles gave up 13 miscues to 12 from the Colonials.
• American held the early lead with a pair of early goals from Vinall and Harkins. 
• GW surged ahead midway through the first half, though, putting away four unanswered to take a 5-3 lead with just over 16 minutes remaining in the stanza.
• Harkins' second goal of the game ended the Colonials run, and the two teams went back-and-forth for a stretch as another Vinall goal and Goldblum's first of the season kept the Eagles within three heading into the final minutes of the half.
• With 7:39 on the clock, Walsh put away her second goal of the day off an assist from de Guzman, sending the Eagles on a three-goal run with contributions from Skowron and Vinall to tie the game at 9-9. GW had the final say of the half, though, edging back ahead by one to send the teams into the break at 10-9.
• American surged to an early lead to open the second half with back-to-back goals from Skowron and Harkins, but struggled to find their footing offensively over the next 10 minutes as the Colonials put five more on the board to take a 15-11 lead.
• The Eagles chipped away at that gap throughout the final 12 minutes of regulation, with unanswered goals from Harkins, Hakes, and Vinall bringing AU back within one at 16-15.
• GW briefly rebuilt a two-goal lead before Harkins added her fifth and final with 2:21 remaining, forcing a GW timeout.
• American pulled Oliveira coming out of the timeout and survived one last push toward goal from GW before going on the offensive. The Eagles regained possession after a shot from junior Katie Pierce was saved, but the clock ticked down before they could reset.

NEXT UP...
The Eagles will be back at Jacobs Complex on Sunday for their first home Patriot League contest of the season, facing off against Lehigh at 3 p.m.

PLEASE FOLLOW US ONLINE ONLY; NO FANS OR SPECTATORS PERMITTED ON CAMPUS

• Per Washington, D.C. and American University guidelines, and for the health and safety of our coaches, student-athletes and campus community, no spectators are permitted at athletics events in 2020-21.
• This policy is a stipulation of our approval to host athletic events from D.C. Department of Health and D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
• We do not anticipate a change in these guidelines this semester. Violators will be escorted from the site and jeopardize our ability to host athletic events for our student-athletes.
• All American University athletic events played on campus this spring will be streamed on ESPN+ (FAQ HERE) and can also be watched through the Patriot League's International Video Stream.
• Schedules and game updates can be found at www.AUeagles.com and our Twitter account @AUeagles.
• All scheduled events and start times are subject to change. 

For the latest on American University Lacrosse, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_Lacrosse) and Instagram (@au_wlax).