WASHINGTON - The American University lacrosse team trailed by as many as eight in the first half against Army West Point but battled back in the second, outscoring the Black Knights 11-7 to fall just short of the comeback with a 17-14 loss on the road. The game broke a five-game win streak for the Eagles, who are now 7-4 overall and 2-1 in the Patriot League. Army remains perfect in conference play at 5-0 and is 10-2 overall.

HEAR FROM COACH TEETERS...
"I couldn't be more proud of the resilience that this team showed today. We've been a first-half team most of this season, and to see them come out after halftime ready to fight back was amazing. They are continuing to prove that they can make a name for themselves in the Patriot League."

BY THE NUMBERS

• Sophomore-transfer Mary Alice Collins continues to be a force in goal for AU as she picked up a new career-high with 20 saves on Saturday, including 13 in the first half alone.
• Three Eagles closed with hat tricks, starting with fifth-year Emma Vinall and senior Stefanie Walsh who each also added an assist on the day to close with a team-high four points.
• Fifth-year Kendall Goldblum also added three goals, followed by two from freshmen Alyssa Apuzzo and Maddie Spratt, and one from sophomore Emma Fiore.
• Vinall also led the Eagles with 11 draw controls.
• On the defensive end, senior Haley Harkins tied her career0high with three ground balls while Goldblum tied her season-best with two caused turnovers.
• Army was led by a six-goal effort from Jolie Riedell, who was one of seven Black Knights to land on the scoreboard. Carleigh Armstrong added the day's final hat trick with four goals while Kathleen Sullivan accounted for two goals and a game-high two assists.
• Lacey Bartholomay led Army from goal with 15 saves.
• The Black Knights held a narrow edge in draw controls, 18-16, and ground balls, 15-13. The two teams were even at six caused turnovers each, but the Eagles gave up 13 miscues to Army's nine.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Army dominated the first half, holding the Eagles scoreless until four minutes into the second quarter when Walsh ended the Black Knights' eight-goal run with her 24th of the season. 
• The two teams traded goals through the rest of the half with Vinall adding two more for AU, but the Eagles still trailed 10-3 heading into the break.
• Walsh opened the second half with a quick goal but Army had the response a minute later to rebuild a seven-goal gap. Back-to-back goals from Vinall and Goldblum sent the Eagles on a 45-1 run to make it a four-goal game with three minutes left in the third quarter. With less than 20 seconds on the clock, though, Army found the back of the net once again to bring the score to 13-8 heading into the final 15 minutes.
• American continued to push in the fourth quarter, starting with the third goal of the day for Walsh. Apuzzo hit two more within a minute to make it a two-goal game at 13-11 with less than 10 minutes left.
• Army hit one final run with three unanswered before back-to-back goals from Goldblum once again brought AU back within three. 
• Both teams added a goal each in the final minute, including a last-second shot from Spratt to close the game at 17-14.

UP NEXT
American is back on the road next week with a visit to Lehigh for a noon draw on Saturday, April 9. The Eagles will return home the next week with a pair of games in Jacobs against Loyola Maryland (April 13) and Bucknell (April 16). 

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