WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday afternoon, the American University field hockey team took on Ohio University in their dual season and home opener, cruising to a substantial 5-1 victory over the Bobcats. Three goals were scored within the opening frame, all by American, before the Eagles notched another in the third and both squads put one on the board in the final quarter.
QUOTES FROM COACH JENNINGS
"It's very exciting to open up the season with a win against a good Ohio team that played the whole time and was making us nervous in some different phases. I'm very happy," said head coach
Steve Jennings post-game.
"I think the freshmen are really fearless so in the end I don't think that score line was something that was really critical for them, but I do think it was really critical for us as a team, especially on a day that was really hot and humid. There was fatigue on both sides when the game got going, so I think it was great to get off to an early lead, make our stamp on the game, and then allow us to just be smart the rest of the way. "
QUICK NOTABLES
- A strong showing by the Eagles' freshmen was notable on the afternoon with six gracing the starting lineup. First-years Jordan Reicher, Sophie Willemse, and Sarah Steinman were also each able to get their first collegiate goals with the appearance.
- First-years Elle Ridge, Alyssa Freeman, and Emilia Winkler had their first collegiate starts alongside Reicher, Willemse, and Steinman.
- Junior Delia Rabatin tallied her first collegiate goal to open the scoring for the Eagles in the first frame of the contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In what would prove to be a strong start for the Eagles, Rabatin put away the first goal of the season and contest within the first seven minutes of regulation thanks to an assist from fellow junior, Rebecca Bonness.
- Reicher was able to square away her first collegiate goal from a stellar solo effort on a half-field run to the goal.
- Seasoned field hockey veteran, fifth-year Megan Hoffman, was able to find the back of the goal from a pass in by Federica Turina Dellamaggiore, to have a strong close to the first quarter with the Eagles leading by a comfortable score line of 3-0.
- Both sides were able to hold strong defensively in the second quarter resulting in neither team being able to break the stalemate.
- The Eagles out-possessed the Bobcats in the third quarter, earning three penalty corners in the frame compared to one for Ohio.
- It was off one of these corners that Willemse was able to execute her own goal with an assist coming from Winkler. The two freshmen connected for a powerful shot that echoed around the complex when it struck the goal.
- Ohio picked up momentum in the fourth quarter with back-to-back penalty corners. Katelyn Whittle was able to tap the ball in the goal off a pass by Anouk Plaehn in the 47th minute. Whittle had taken the corner herself and quickly got back into the fray to tap in the ball.
- In the final minutes of regulation, Steinman joined in on the scoring fun and tapped the ball into the goal off a pass in by Tayla-Jade Weiss to get the Eagles' their final goal of the game.
UP NEXT
- Up next for the Eagles, they're hosting #5 Penn State on Sunday, August 27 at 1 pm at Jacobs Complex.
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