WORCESTER, Mass. – A fast-paced, high-scoring first period would be the difference on a cold and rainy Saturday afternoon when the American University lacrosse team (6-3, 2-0 PL) traveled to take on Holy Cross (3-7, 0-2 PL) and defeated the Crusaders, 12-7. The Eagles outscored the Crusaders 7-1 in the eight-goal opening frame and would hold at least a four-goal lead throughout the remainder of the contest.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Senior Emma Hare had herself a day, earning five points when she knocked in three goals on four shots on goal, and tacked on two assists. Hare was joined by sophomore Alyssa Apuzzo who also grabbed a hat-trick on four shots on goal as well. Apuzzo would also claim a ground ball. Hare now has 12 goals on the season and Apuzzo would rack up nine total with her performance.
• Freshman Annabelle Jackson took her goals on the season total to 18 with a brace against the Crusaders. Jackson would also pick up a ground ball and two assists.
• Four more Eagles would each score one goal apiece. Junior Hannah Spease, freshman Reagan Murdoch, and sophomores Becca Frank and Maddy Spratt would each score a goal. Murdoch also picked up three assists and Spratt one in the contest.
• Freshman Bliss Vernon would lead the Eagles in ground balls, picking up four, while collectively Spease (6) and junior Lizzie De Guzman (4) would earn all 10 draw controls the Eagles won in the contest.
• Mary Alice Collins finished the contest with 10 total saves on 17 shots fired at her by the Crusaders. The junior keeper's 8.29 average of saves-per-game puts her at second place in the Patriot League in the stat.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Jackson was the first one to find the back of the net on the chilly afternoon, taking aim on a free position shot to claim the goal and put the Eagles up 1-0 early in the opening frame.
• The Crusaders responded with a goal of their own, just over two minutes later with 11 minutes left in the first period, but that would be all for Holy Cross in those fifteen.
• American would go on to a seven-goal run. Apuzzo got her first goal of the day to start the run. Then Hare would score a brace, knocking in back-to-back goals in less than 25 seconds before she'd then grab an assist on Spease's first goal of the afternoon.
• The run continued with a goal from Frank before Apuzzo grabbed her second for an early brace off a free-position shot and Hare went on to earn herself a hat-trick with 23 seconds remaining in the first.
• American led 8-1 a quarter of the way into the game and had a 11-4 shot advantage and 7-3 draw control advantage heading into the second period.
• Holy Cross fought back, scoring two in a row to open the second period, both from Henna Brennan to bring the Crusaders within five, Eagles still up 8-3.
• After already earning one assist on the day, Spratt sunk a goal, the first of the second for American, to put the Eagles back up 9-3 with a comfortable, six goal lead to hang onto.
• That 9-3 score line would hold until halftime, American with a 13-7 shots on goal advantage and a 9-4 lead in draw controls at the break.
• Coming out of the break, the Crusaders struck first, knocking one in on a man-down goal, their second of the season, to claw back to four down, trailing the Eagles 9-4.
• It was Murdoch who scored the opening goal for the Eagles in the third, bringing the Eagles back up six, but less than two minutes later Holy Cross scored a fifth goal, and they were back within five with six minutes left in the third frame.
• Collins would have a big save to keep the Crusaders out, but with 3:57 left in the period, they would knock one in, minimizing the Eagles lead to four, up 10-6 before American called a time out.
• With her third goal of the afternoon, Apuzzo would take the momentum back from Holy Cross to earn a hat trick and have the Eagles up 11-6, assisted by Hare, with just one frame remaining.
• The Crusaders opened the final frame with a goal four minutes in, shrinking the lead the Eagles held to just four, but American's Jackson would knock one in with nine minutes left to lead 12-7. Collins again would make a save, this time on a free position shot, to keep the five-goal cushion.
• The 12-7 lead would hold for the remainder of the contest, American going 2-0 in conference play.

UP NEXT
The Eagles will be on the road again on Wednesday March 29, taking on Loyola Maryland at 6 p.m.

The squad will then return home to Jacobs Complex in one weeks' time on Saturday, April 1 to take on Army at noon in what will be the commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the 2003 Patriot League Championship winning team.

KEEP UP WITH US
For the latest on American University lacrosse, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@au_lacrosse) and Instagram (@au_wlax).