WASHINGTON – In what will be their third ranked matchup in two weeks, the American University lacrosse team (6-6, 2-3 PL) will take on the Midshipmen of Navy (10-3, 4-1 PL) on Wednesday, April 12 at 4 p.m. in Jacobs Complex.

QUICK INFO

• Date/Time: Wednesday, April 12; 4 p.m.
• Site: Washington, D.C. (Jacobs Complex)
• Series History: Navy leads, 16-1
• TV: ESPN+
• Talent: Bryan Albin

AULAX // MORGAN'S MESSAGE // THE HIDDEN OPPONENT 
The American University Women's lacrosse team is dedicating today's game to Morgan Rodgers, a former Duke University Lacrosse student-athlete who died tragically in July 2019 after battling mental health struggles. Morgan's Message was created by her family and former teammates with the mission to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health, normalize the conversations about mental health and to ensure that mental health is treated equally to physical health for all student athletes.

At AU, we have student-athlete mental health advocacy group with ambassadors from both Morgan's Message, and The Hidden Opponent, a non-profit founded by Victoria Garrick Browne, former D1 volleyball athlete at University of Southern California who battled depression during her collegiate career and strives to advocate, educate, and support college athletes. For more information on Morgan's life and legacy and how you can help those with mental health struggles please visit MorgansMessage.org, and for more information on the Hidden Opponent visit TheHiddenOpponent.org.

AULAX // TASK FORCE NYX
The lacrosse squad has teamed up with Task Force NYX for their Wednesday game. Task Force NYX is a women-led, all-volunteer NGO that works to connect Afghan women's rights protesters with global allies and mobilize resources and support for the Afghan women's rights movement.
 
The team will wear teal ribbons during the match to symbolize the partnership and raise awareness for the cause.
 
For more information on Task Force NYX and their mission, click here. To donate to the cause, click here.
 
SERIES HISTORY

• In a series that dates to 2008, the Eagles and the Midshipmen have faced off a total of 17 times. Navy has the 16-1 advantage over American since that series has begun, with American's sole win coming at home at Jacobs Complex in the programs' second meeting in 2008.
• Most recently, in 2022 away in Annapolis, the Mids were the victors over the Eagles, by a score of 13-23.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT AMERICAN

• This past Saturday, the Eagles and the Mountain Hawks of Lehigh face off in Jacobs Complex to battle for who would firmly claim the fourth-place spot in the Patriot League. American would end up falling 11-16 and slipping to fifth in the league while Lehigh would trade and go up to fourth.
• Time and time again the Eagles would rise to meet the challenge from the visiting Mountain Hawks but were unable to close the gap that game from the early barrage of goals when Lehigh went on a 6-0 run from the end of the first through the first five minutes of the second frame.
• The freshmen duo of Annabelle Jackson and Rachel Kolton led the Eagles offensively with three goals apiece while each put four shots on goal. Kolton also added a ground ball to her efforts. Jackson's three goals gives her a team-high 24 goals for the season.
• Junior Hannah Spease and freshman Kellie Linehan each added two more goals with both players putting three shots on goal. Spease added four draw controls and a pair of ground balls throughout the game.
• Sophomore Jenna Walls kept active on the defensive end for the Eagles as she caused two turnovers and gathered three ground balls while seniors Grace Brennan and Jane Reffelt also maintained a strong defensive presence as Brennan secured a pair of ground balls and caused a turnover while Reffelt gathered a ground ball and caused two turnovers.
• Junior goalkeeper Mary Alice Collins stood tall in front of the net as she saved 11 of the Mountain Hawks' 27 shots on goal. Collins upped her total saves for the season to 88, keeping 44% of shots out of the net. Collins is third in the league in saves per game (8.56).

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT NAVY

• The #23 Mids are coming into this midweek matchup after a 11-12 away, weekend loss to Patriot League opponent, Boston University. The Terriers went on a 4-0 run in the first frame after Navy score the first that would give them the edge throughout the entire contest. The Mids were able to close the gap to one on four different occasions but were unable to find the equalizer.
• Offensively, Navy scored 11 goals on 29 shots, while BU finished with 12 score on 18 attempts for a much more efficient attack. Boston U registered five assists while Navy had just one helper in the game.
• Ava Yovina, the Mids' standout freshman concluded the game with three goals, two draw controls, and a ground ball and caused turnover to her line on the stat sheet. Yovina is the league leader in assists per game (3.15) and in points per game (5.54). She also ranks third in the NCAA in assists.
• Sophomore Emily Messinese had two goals, two ground balls and a draw control to her name. Messinese and Yovina lead the mids with 31 goals each on the season. Messinese also has 40 draw controls on the season.
• As a team, Navy is third in the league in goals per game (14.85) assists per game (6.69) and points per game (21.54). They lead the league in woman-up scoring percentage and are second in woman-up goals per game (1.31).

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).