WASHINGTON - The American University field hockey team (3-2) picked up its second win over a top-25 team this season with a thrilling 3-2 double-overtime victory against No. 21 UMass (4-2) on Sunday. The game closed out a two-win weekend for the Eagles at Maryland's Terrapin Invitational after the team outlasted Richmond, 2-1, on Friday.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• This was the third overtime game of the season for the Eagles, but the first that went into a second period of extra time. AU's fist two games of the season were decided within the first few minutes of OT, starting with a 2-1 win over No. 23 VCU, then a 3-2 loss to No. 18 Old Dominion two days later. This is the team's fourth ranked opponent of the year so far, and they are now 2-2 against top-25 squads. 
• A battle from start to finish, UMass held a slight edge in shots, 20-17, although the Eagles put 10 on goal while the Minutewomen had only eight land on target.
• UMass also held a narrow 9-8 lead in penalty corners. The first of these came early in the game as an offensive push in the third minute delivered the Minutewomen their first set play opportunity. Although the initial shot was blocked, the second found the back of the cage off a shot from Claire Danahy to give UMass the early lead.
• American was quick to respond, earning their first corner opportunity less than a minute later but the shot from junior Megan Hoffman was saved by UMass goalkeeper Marlise van Tonder. 
• Senior Noor Coenen delivered the equalizer midway through the first quarter, collecting the ball and midfield and running it into the circle before blasting a shot into the upper right corner of the cage. This was her second goal of the season after she scored against No. 18 Delaware on August 29.
• Both teams made offensive pushes late in the stanza, with UMass putting up one more shot that landed wide of the cage and AU posting three after a pair of late penalty corners, but the score remained locked at 1-1 heading into the break.
• The battle continued into the second quarter, with UMass putting the Eagles on the defensive early. AU's defensive line continued to pull through, though, blocking three of the Minutewomen's four shots in the first eight minutes. Sophomore goalkeeper Bryn Underwood also came in clutch for the red, white, and blue with a pair of saves to end the quarter.
• Coenen got off the squad's only shot of the stanza off American's only corner, but UMass defender Bella Ianni batted it away on the line to keep the score even at 1-1 at halftime.
• Once again, UMass pushed early to open the second half, and this time it paid off as the Minutewomen retook the lead with a goal from Dempsey Campbell after she picked up her own rebound when her first shot was saved by Underwood.
• Senior Hannah Moser and Coenen both got looks at goal to draw even, but their shots went just wide of the cage, sending the Eagles into the final 15 minutes of regulation trailing, 2-1.
• The fourth corner opened with some strong offensive pushes from the Eagles, including another narrow miss from Coenen. 
• Junior Maura Phelan was the next to challenge the UMass keeper off a penalty corner, but the ball came loose in front of goal and junior Julia Kraft was there to send in her first goal of the year and send the game into extra time.
• The drama continued in the first 10 minutes of OT, as neither team was able to find the golden goal.
• A pair of early saves from Underwood to open the second period of OT kept the Eagles alive and sent play to the other end where they forced back-to-back penalty corners. Van Tonder came away with her fifth save of the day after a shot from Gaby de Kock, but the next look from Coenen proved to be the deciding factor. The All-American midfielder collected a pass from sophomore Emily Horace and slammed the shot past the keeper into the far corner for her second goal of the day, third of the season, and first game-winner of the year.

NEXT UP...
AU will make its home and Patriot League debut on Saturday, September 18, with an 11 a.m. start against Lafayette at Jacobs Complext. 

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