WASHINGTON - Freshmen Alyssa Apuzzo and Becca Frank scored their first career hat tricks to lead the American University lacrosse team, but the Eagles couldn't come back after a pair of Navy runs and fell to the 24th-ranked Midshipmen, 16-10, on Wednesday.

American now sits at 8-6 overall and 3-3 in the Patriot League heading into the final three games of the regular season. The Eagles are still looking to secure their first Patriot League Tournament berth since 2013 and are currently in the running for quarterfinal hosting rights as they sit alongside Bucknell at fourth in the league standings.

HEAR FROM COACH TEETERS...
"Our defense did a phenomenal job today following the game plan and handling a strong Navy offensive unit, and the underclassmen really whoed that the future is bright for AU Lacrosse. Jordan Mitchell held her match-up goal-less, and Mary Alice Collins had some great saves. Both Alyssa Apuzzo and Becca Frank really helped keep us in the game. I know our team will bounce back on Saturday against Colgate."

BY THE NUMBERS

• For the second time this season Apuzzo paced the Eagles, scoring a career-high four goals including three in the second half.
• Frank also hit a new career-high with three goals, two of which came within a minute of each other in the third quarter to cut Navy's lead down to two. She also added one of the Eagles' three assists for four points.
• Classmate Maddy Spratt also continued her stellar debut season with an assist and last-second goal to end the game.
• Fifth-year Kendall Goldblum and senior Stefanie Walsh closed scoring with a goal each. Walsh also pitched in the third and final assist on the day.
• Sophomore Jordan Mitchell paced the Eagles on the defensive end with four draw controls, three caused turnovers, and two ground balls - all good for new career-highs.
• Sophomore goalkeeper Mary Alice Collins picked up 11 saves in her 60 minutes in goal.
• Seven players got on the board for the Mids, starting with a four-goal effort from Tori DiCarlo. Lindsay Beardmore and Leelee Denton added three goals each.
• Jo Torres played all but three minutes in goal and totaled nine saves on the day.
• Navy led in shots, 40-22, draw controls, 18-10, ground balls, 23-16, and caused turnovers, 13-8.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• American took a brief 2-1 lead in the first quarter after back-to-back goals from Goldblum and Frank got scoring going for the Eagles. 
• Navy quickly put AU on its heels, though, with a 5-0 run spanning into the second quarter to take a 6-2 lead before Apuzzo managed to break up the run with her first goal of the game. The Mids had the final say of the half to send the teams into the locker room at 7-3.
• Navy was back on the board to open the second half, but once again Apuzzo had the answer as she scored each of the Eagles' first two goals of the third quarter. Frank continued the run with two of her own as AU posted three unanswered goals to land back within two at 9-7 with two minutes left in the third quarter.
• A late goal from Navy in response closed the stanza at 10-7, and the Mids continued the run into the fourth quarter with three more unanswered before Apuzzo found the back of the net for the fourth and final time of the game.
• Walsh added another with just over two minutes left in the game to break up a closing three-goal Navy run. 
• Just as the final second ticked off the clock, Spratt launched one final shot past the Navy keeper off a quick transition play sparked by a ground ball from Goldblum on the other end.

NEXT UP
American will close its regular season home schedule on Saturday with a noon game against Colgate at Jacobs Complex. The game will double as both the Eagles' Senior Day celebration as well as AU's National Girls and Women in Sports Day event.

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