WASHINGTON – With a pair of goals in the final 10 minutes, the American University field hockey team came back from a 1-0 deficit to score a clutch, 2-1 victory in the final regular season game, which was also the Eagles' Senior Day. Senior
Megan Hoffman scored the go-ahead goal with less than six minutes remaining, and senior
Abbie Ortyl played the full game in goal and recorded her first career victory at AU.
Due to ongoing renovations to the field at Boston University, the only other team with a chance to claim the top seed in the Patriot League, American has been awarded next week's PL Championships. Two semifinals are set for Thursday, Nov. 3 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., with the championship game slated for Saturday, Nov. 5. More information and the final seedings will be announced later this weekend.
QUICK NOTABLES
- All seven AU seniors, who were honored in a ceremony prior to the game, received a starting nod in the contest.
- In playing all 60 minutes, Ortyl recorded a career high four saves including a massive one with minutes left to keep the Tribe from getting the go-ahead goal.
- Freshman Frederiek Thierry scored the tying goal for AU, also her second goal of the season.
- The goal by Hoffman was her fifth of the season, good enough for third on the team, and she was assisted by junior Imogen Hatton.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Eagles controlled possession early on and recorded the first two shots of the game, but when William & Mary finally had a shot on offense the Tribe made it count.
- William & Mary earned their first penalty corner chances back-to-back early in the second quarter, and scored on the second of those off a rebound in the 18th minute.
- The Tribe would have no more penalty corner opportunities until the final three minutes of the contest.
- In the third quarter, AU earned two corners but was unable to find the back of the cage on either one. Both goalkeepers made a save in the third quarter to keep the score at 1-0 in favor of William & Mary.
- In the sixth minute of the final quarter, Thierry drove around a defender in the circle and fired a shot from the left side that made it past Maddie George of the Tribe.
- The Eagles were able to continue the celebration just over four minutes later when Hatton sent in a ball to Hoffman that she scooped into the cage for a 2-1 lead that would stand through to the end of the game.
- AU's defense held strong as the Tribe had two corner chances in the final minutes.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- American trailed 9-7 in shots in the final stats, and also trailed 4-3 in penalty corners.
- The Eagles made four saves compared to two for William & Mary.
UP NEXT
- Check back to AUEagles.com to find out the Eagles' final seed and pairing for the Patriot League semifinals, to be held at AU on Thursday, Nov. 3.
KEEP UP WITH US
