WASHINGTON - Four points each from fifth-year Emma Vinall and senior Stefanie Walsh pulled the American University lacrosse team to a late 10-8 victory over William & Mary on Friday as the Eagles opened a two-game weekend on the road.

AU will continue its road trip on Sunday with a 1 p.m. start at Old Dominion.

HEAR FROM COACH TEETERS...
"This wasn't an easy win, credit to William & Mary for a hard-fought game. I'm so proud of this group's resilience and ability to stay composed when the going got tough."

BY THE NUMBERS

• Vinall scored her fifth hat trick of the season and second consecutive, leading the team with four goals, including two in the fourth quarter as the Eagles battled back from a one-goal deficit.
• Walsh picked up four points out of the assist column, including three during the fourth quarter surge.
• Fifth-year Kendall Goldblum and senior Hali Sibilia scored two goals each while sophomore Emma Fiore and freshman Maddy Spratt added one. Spratt also pitched in the other assist on the day.
• Sophomore-transfer Mary Alice Collins put in a full game in the net and closed with a season-high seven saves.
• Goldblum, Spratt, and Collins closed with four ground balls each while Walsh picked up a team-high three caused turnovers. Vinall and Goldblum shared draw control responsibilities with five and four, respectively.
• The Tribe was led by a four-goal effort from Lauren Russell. Three others found the back of the net, including a brace from Belle Martire. William & Mary closed with zero assists but led AU in ground balls, 22-20, and draw controls, 12-10. 
• William & Mary keeper Elise Palmer closed with 10 saves in her 60 minutes in goal.
• The Eagles held the 11-10 edge in caused turnovers.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• It took until the final six minutes of the first quarter for William & Mary to break the 0-0 stalemate with a goal from Russell.
• Vinall responded in kind less than three minutes to pick up the first of five ties during the game, but the Tribe put away two unanswered goals to close the first quarter with a 3-1 lead.
• American absolutely dominated the second quarter with a 5-0 run behind goals from Goldblum, Sibilia (two), Vinall, and Spratt.
• The Eagles' 6-3 lead was shortlived in the second half, though, as they suffered a scoreless quarter of their own. William & Mary chipped away at the lead throughout the stanza and tied the game once again at 6-6 heading into the final 15 minutes.
• The two teams went back-and-forth in the first half of the fourth quarter with William & Mary edging ahead twice by a goal before Vinall managed to even the score at 7-7 and 8-8. The Tribe lost steam down the stretch and the Eagles took advantage, surging to the two-goal victory behind the late efforts of Fiore and Goldblum.

NEXT UP
American will make a quick turnaround and be back on the field on Sunday with a 1 p.m. start at Old Dominion. The Eagles will open Patriot League play at Lafayette on Saturday, March 19, before returning home to host Holy Cross at noon on Saturday, March 26.

For the latest on American University Lacrosse, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_Lacrosse) and Instagram (@au_wlax).