BOSTON – Two goals, each one falling three minutes on either side of the half, were the difference for the American University field hockey team when they took on Boston University on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles took down the Terriers 2-0 on the road with
Bryn Underwood and the AU defense earning their third shutout of the season.
QUOTES FROM COACH JENNINGS
"We are super happy with the way we played today against a very talented BU team. The game was very tight for the majority of the match, but we surged in the second half and got our attack going. The deep defense deserves a great deal of credit for earning a shutout and showing excellent resiliency.
"It will be important for the team to shift focus immediately to the postseason. We want to play our best hockey at the most important time of the year and demonstrate all the hard work we have poured into this season as a group."
QUICK NOTABLES
- Graduate student Megan Hoffman scored her third goal of the season when she tallied the opening goal of the contest. She also has six assists on the season.
- With her goal in the 33rd minute, Kaleigh Missimer notched her first collegiate goal.
- Emilia Winkler, a first year from Berlin, earned her fourth assist on the year in the game when she assisted on Missimer's goal. She also has five goals on the season.
- The Terriers were the recipients of the only card shown in the contest; it was a green card in the 46th minute.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The contest began slowly, both teams thrown off by the 30 minute delay in start while they waited for the match officials. Each team only registered one shot on goal in the opening frame.
- In the 23rd minute, the Eagles were awarded a penalty stroke. Taken by veteran Charllene Boshoff, the ball hit the inside of the post, but didn't cross into the goal as it ricocheted off harmlessly.
- The Eagles earned a penalty corner in the 27th minute. Taken by Hoffman, the ball was inserted into the scrum in front of the goal, unable to see a way through it, defender Tayla-Jade Weiss passed the ball back to Hoffman, who had posted herself at the left corner of the goal. She collected the pass and sent it in past Terriers' keeper Kate Thomason to put the Eagles up 1-0.
- Thomason would have a redeeming moment though when in the 32nd minute, when AU was awarded another penalty stroke, again taken by Boshoff and this time, saved.
- It was just a minute later, three minutes into the second half, that American struck again. Winkler had control of the ball, driving into the circle and perfectly timed a pass to Missimer, who was stationed at the right post to redirect the ball past Thomason. The Eagles were up 2-0 over the Terriers.
- In the third period, American took control of possession, taking six shots to Boston's three and earning two corners to Boston's nil.
- Before the final fifteen minute frame began AU had 10 shots on goal to the Terriers' five and the defensive line didn't allow another shot on target for the remainder of the match.
- American keeper Underwood was only forced to make five saves in the contest, two in the second period and three in the third.
PATRIOT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS
- The Eagles will enter the Patriot League Tournament as the No. 1 seed, with the outright claim to the regular season title. The Eagles and head coach Steve Jennings have earned their 13th regular-season title since joining the Patriot League in 2001.
- American is set to host all three games on its home turf in Jacobs Complex. Both semifinal games will be on Thursday, Nov. 2, with the Eagles facing off against No. 4 seed Bucknell at 11 a.m., while No. 3 Boston U and No. 2 Lafayette will take the field at 2 p.m. The Championship game with be played on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m.
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