Headline - Charllene Boshoff
2
Winner American AMERICAN (1-0)
1
VCU VCU (0-1)
Winner
American AMERICAN
(1-0)
2
Final
1
VCU VCU
(0-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
American AMERICAN 1 0 0 0 1 2
VCU VCU 1 0 0 0 0 1

Game Recap: Field Hockey |

Field Hockey Opens Season with OT Win at No. 23 VCU

WASHINGTON - Junior Charllene Boshoff put away the game winner in the 62nd minute to deliver the first win of the season for the American University field hockey team. The Eagles bested VCU, ranked 23rd in the NFHCA preseason poll, on Friday, August 27, to open the 2021 fall campaign. 

HEAR FROM COACH JENNINGS
"What a great way to start the season! The team did a great job recovering from an early deficit and showed great skill and poise throughout the contest against a very talented and well-coached VCU team. All of our lines did an amazing job of solving problems within the match, and I thought we got stronger and stronger as the game went on. The corner unit executed an amazing play to win, and we look forward to our next game against ODU in the coming days."

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Freshman Federica Turina Dellamaggiore also highlighted the day for the Eagles with her first career goal. She leveled the score at 1-1 with less than five minutes left in the first quarter after VCU pulled to an early lead.
  • The Eagles came out strong in the second quarter, drawing an early penalty corner after a pair of strong offensive pushes. Seniors Noor Coenen and Gaby de Kock put up a pair of shots in quick succession but VCU goalkeeper Sasha Elliott came away with saves on both. 
  • With less than a minute remaining in the first half, senior Aidan Rossman placed a dangerous shot into the upper corner of the cage but Elliott came away with the save once again to send the teams into the break even at 1-1.
  • American continued to pressure the VCU keeper, posting seven shots in the final 30 minutes, including three from Dellmaggiore. But three saves from the VCU keeper and one defensive save from Rams' defender Maite Sturm held off the Eagles and sent the game into extra time.
  • AU closed the book within the first three minutes of extra time, picking up their eighth penalty corner of the day at the 62:35 mark. Boshoff took a pass from Coenen at the top of the circle and sent in a low ball, skirting just underneath the oncoming VCU keeper to find the back of the cage and her second career goal.
  • By the final whistle, American had posted 20 shots to VCU's nine, and held the Rams to only two penalty corner opportunities.
  • This the Eagles' first win against a nationally-ranked team since 2018 when they overpowered then-No. 17 James Madison, 5-2.
UP NEXT
  • AU will continue its opening road trip on Sunday with a noon start at No. 18 Old Dominion. 
  • The Eagles will visit Delaware on September 3 before making their home debut against William & Mary at 1 p.m. on September 5.
For the latest on American University Field Hockey, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_FieldHockey) and Instagram (@aufieldhockey).
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