Field hockey celebrates on the field after scoring a goal against Ohio.
1
LAF LAF (3-5, 1-1)
3
Winner AMERICAN AU (5-4, 2-0)
LAF LAF
(3-5, 1-1)
1
Final
3
AMERICAN AU
(5-4, 2-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
LAF LAF 1 0 0 0 1
AMERICAN AU 0 1 1 1 3

Game Recap: Field Hockey |

Field Hockey Thunders Past Lafayette, 3-1, in Patriot League Home Opener

WASHINGTON – It was a day for fifth years, as both graduate students on the American University field hockey team scored when the Eagles faced off with Patriot League opponents Lafayette on a rainy Sunday afternoon. The Leopards jumped out to an early lead in the first period, before the Eagles sounded back. Megan Hoffman had a hand in all three AU goals, first with one of her own before assisting on both of Charllene Boshoff's to see American win 3-1.

QUOTES FROM COACH JENNINGS
"It's a great result for the team. They've been working really hard. We've been so close in so many games to having, not a perfect performance, but just a solid performance for all 60 minutes­–or overtime if needed–and today I'm really happy we were able to come from behind against a very talented, well-coached team and get the win."

QUICK NOTABLES
  • Boshoff now leads the team with five goals on the season. Both of the senior defender's goals on Sunday were scored from penalty corners. She leads AU with 10 points overall.
  • Hoffman kicked off the scoring for the Eagles, notching her second goal of the season. She also earned two assists, one from each of Boshoff's goals. The forward trails only Boshoff in points for the Eagles, with nine total from five assists and two goals.
  • With the result, Jennings is two wins away from reaching 300 careers wins as a head coach.
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • It was only the seventh minute of the contest when Lafayette opened the scoring for the game. Ariel Schumacher got one past goalkeeper Bryn Underwood thanks to an assist from the League-leader in scoring, Josephine Van Wijk.
  • Play was back and forth from there, with the edge going slightly in the direction of the Leopards who earned two penalty corners in the opening frame. The first of which earned them their goal. They carried their 1-0 lead into the second period.
  • Four minutes into the second quarter though the Eagles knotted it at 1-all thanks to Hoffman. The forward had taken a shot that was saved by Leopards' keeper Raffi Fragomeni. She then collected the rebound and sent the ball high past the crowd of Lafayette defenders into the open goal.
  • Going into the halftime break, it was anyone's game with the score line even at 1-all through thirty minutes of play. Neither team earned a penalty corner in the second frame, keeping it tidy in their defensive circles.
  • After the break, American kept up its pressing. The Eagles had been outdone 1-2 in shots on goal in the first, before coming back in the second period to go 2-0 in in the stat to even it at 3-all. In the third they held the Leopards off from taking any shots.
  • Boshoff first goal of the contest was one that echoed around Jacobs Complex when it slammed into the bottom of the goal. Hoffman's corner was straight to the defender who collected it and slammed it through the defenders to give American a 2-1 lead with 20 minutes left to play.
  • With 10 minute remaining, Hoffman would again take a penalty corner–her fourth of four so far in the game. The execution and result were the same as the first linkup between the two. Hoffman's pass went straight to Boshoff who collected and left no doubts when she slapped the ball into the goal.
  • The Eagles would take one more penalty corner in the contest and another shot from Tayla-Jade Weiss that would slip out wide past the goal. In the end, they would close out the game strong, holding off the Leopards to take the 3-1 victory at home.
  • Lafayette's two penalty corners in the first period were the only two that it would earn in the contest. In contrast, American was held from taking any corners in the first half of the game but would take three in the third and two more in the fourth to lead 5-2 in the stat at the end of the game.
  • The Eagles' high press and defensive efforts in the second half kept the Leopards from taking any shots in the final thirty minutes of the game. They themselves took four. Overall, the Eagles led 7(5)-4(3) in shots and shots on goal in the game.
UP NEXT
  • On Sunday, Oct. 1, the Eagles will be back on the road to take on No. 20 Delaware in Newark at 1 p.m. 
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