WASHINGTON - The American University field hockey team opened its home and Patriot League schedule on Saturday with a thrilling victory against Lafayette, outlasting the Leopards 1-0 in the Eagles' fourth overtime game this year.

NOTABLE

• Senior Noor Coenen blasted in her second consecutive game-winner, taking the penalty corner from senior Georgia Davies in the 63rd minute and sending the shot just inside the left post. She clinched the win in a similar fashion last week against No. 21 UMass, but instead collected the pass from sophomore Emily Horace after a corner in the 74th minute.
• Sophomore goalkeeper Bryn Underwood walked away with her best career performance in the red, white, and blue. She had a career-high 10 saves for her first shutout of the season, including a clutch dive to save a Lafayette penalty stroke in the third quarter.
• AU closed the game trailing Lafayette in shots, 16-8, and penalty corners, 9-7.
• This is the fifth consecutive win for the Eagles against Lafayette, and the third consecutive game that was pushed into extra time. AU pulled off two double-overtime victories against the Leopards last year.
• American is now 4-2 on the year (1-0 PL), including a 3-1 record in overtime games.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Lafayette controlled the game early, putting up five shots American's three in the first 15 minutes. Underwood got right to work, though, saving a pair of close calls in the first five minutes before the Eagles got their feet under them.
• It was a midfield battle in the second quarter, with the Leopards getting off only three shots and the Eagles two.
• American's back line was back to work in the second half as the Lafayette offensive continued to lay on pressure. A foul called after an early Lafayette penalty corner put the Leopards' midfielder on the line for a penalty stroke, but a beautiful save from Underwood as the ball headed toward the left post kept the score locked at 0-0.
• Junior Julia Kraft had a good look four minutes later, but Lafayette goalkeeper Hailey Abbott came up with one of her two saves of the day. She came away with her other save late in the fourth quarter after Coenen had a good look to end the game with less than two minutes on the clock.
• The Leopards made another final push in the final minute, but it was all Underwood as she closed regulation with three of her 10 saves in quick succession.
• American took that momentum and made quick work of overtime. The Eagles' offensive pushed from the whistle and picked up a penalty corner at thw 62:10 mark. With senior Gaby de Kock on the sideline, it fell to Davies to insert and she sent the ball to the awaiting Coenen at the top of the circle. A few quick steps put Coenen in position and she sent the first and only goal of the day just out of reach for the diving Lafayette keeper.

NEXT UP
American will be on the road on Friday for a neutral-site match against LIU. The Eagles will then return to Jacobs Complex on Sunday, Sept. 26, for a 3 p.m. start against No. 7 Maryland.

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