WASHINGTON – On a sunny Thursday afternoon, the No. 2 seeded American University field hockey team battled No. 3 seeded Lehigh for a full 60 minutes of regulation, 20 minutes of overtime, and through nine full rounds of penalty shootouts, but ultimately fell 2-1 to the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh will advance to face No. 1 seed Boston University on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Jacobs Complex.
QUICK NOTABLES
- American's lone goal was scored by junior Emily Horace, her third of the season.
- The assist on Horace's goal from Charllene Boshoff was the senior's first of the season.
- Junior goalkeeper Bryn Underwood had three saves in regulation play and overtime combined and six in the penalty shootout.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Nothing was going for either team in the first half; it was a defensive battle that only saw one shot on goal from either side.
- It was Lehigh that opened the scoring for the game and put the pressure on the defending champions. In the 33rd minute of the game, the Mountain Hawks' Sarah Bonthuis scored her 11th goal of the season through a crowded circle to go up 1-0 over the Eagles.
- In the 47th minute of the game, the Eagles took their opportunity and did what they've done best this season, scored off a penalty corner. Boshoff's initial shot was off target, but a tap from Horace sent it in past the Lehigh keeper and tied up the semifinal 1-1.
- In the fourth quarter, American out-shot Lehigh 3-0, taking three shots on goal, but two saves and a block kept the Eagles from turning the tides in regulation.
- In the first period of overtime, the game swayed back and forth. Lehigh earned two penalty corners, their first and only two of the game, but American still out-shot the visitors 3-2 in shots on goal. Still, nothing was going for either side.
- When the second overtime period ended much the same way, with the teams knotted at 1-1, the decision of the game went to a penalty shootout.
- At the end of five rounds of penalty shootouts, the Eagles had one attempt made by Tayla-Jade Weiss and the Mountain Hawks had one attempt of their own made.
- After the five rounds, the penalty shootout became sudden death, and in the ninth round, the Mountain Hawks managed to get one past Underwood to take the win, 2-1 and advance to the Patriot League Championship game
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- American had an 11-9 shot advantage in the game. The Eagles and the Mountain Hawks were even 2-2 after the first half, but American out-shot Lehigh 5-1 in the second half. The Mountain Hawks out-shot the Eagles 6-4 in overtime. American though had the on-goal shot advantage of 9-4.
- The Eagles held the penalty corner advantage, 4-2 in the game. Neither team earned one in the first half, but American earned three in the second half and one in the second overtime period. Both of Lehigh's penalty corners came in the first overtime period.
- Three green cards and two yellow cards were issued during the game. Lehigh had two green cards and American was given two yellow cards and a green card.
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