LYNCHBURG, Va. – Contest everything, keep them from playing their style of hockey; that was what the American University field hockey team headed to Lynchburg to do on Sunday afternoon. The Eagles battled #14 Liberty for a full 60 minutes of regulation, 20 minutes of overtime, and through four full rounds of a penalty shootout, but ultimately fell 0-1 to the Flames.
QUOTES FROM COACH JENNINGS
"I am so proud of our tremendous effort today in a match full of incredible momentum swings. Liberty is a fantastic team in every measure, and we showed our potential for what we can become.
"We continue to grow, and we continue to build connections on and off the field which will serve to help us reach greater heights.
"We have a lot to work on, and we can't wait to start our preparation for next weekend's Terrapin Invitational."
QUICK NOTABLES
- Liberty averaged eight penalty corners a game coming into the contest, but American's defense was able to hold the Flames to six, two of which came in regulation and four from both overtime periods combined.
- With the result, Steve Jennings is five wins away from reaching 300 career wins as a head coach.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The game opened with high press and intensity from American, doing all they could to keep the ball in their attaching third of the field. American only allowed one shot from the opposition in the first period, and it was easy to manage with a kick save from goalie Bryn Underwood.
- The Eagles were the side to earn the only penalty corner in the first half of the contest and would have had an excellent opportunity to go up early on a shot from Elle Ridge if not for a sliding save from the Flames' keeper.
- Liberty would take two more shots, three total for the half, and keep American from taking any in the second period. The first shot went safely wide, and the second prompted a defensive save from Charllene Boshoff with three minutes remaining before the break.
- Coming out of half time, Liberty came out hot, putting themselves and the game in their attacking third, putting American on the defensive. Within the first two minutes of the second half, the Flames had two shots on goal, forcing two more saves from Underwood.
- Liberty earned their first corner, in the 36th minute. It was just the second corner of the game between the sides. American was able to stand tall defensively though, and nothing came from the opportunity, the score remained 0-0 with half of the third left to play.
- After a video referral break in the 43rd minute, the Eagles were able to earn their second corner of the game, but the Flames deflected Federica Turina Dellamaggiore's shot that arose from the opportunity.
- Liberty would lead 2-1 in shots on goal, but the teams would head to the final period of regulation knotted at 0-0.
- In the 49th minute, American would have another penalty corner opportunity, their third, which didn't lead to a goal, but resulted in a second consecutive corner. On the second corner, Tayla-Jade Weiss was able to make a sweeping shot, but with a few deflections, the ball was forced wide.
- Liberty earned their second penalty corner of the game in the 55th minute; it resulted in a second corner. The second corner would then result in a penalty stroke. Underwood would come up big though, and make the massive save on the penalty stroke, keeping the game 0-0 with four minutes remaining.
- For the third game in a row, American would head to overtime to decide the outcome of a game. It would also be the second time in two that they would push a nationally ranked competitor to extra time.
- Overtime started with American taking the advantages, playing heavily in the Flames' defensive third, but with three minutes left in the first overtime period, Liberty would earn a penalty corner. The shot was well handled by Boshoff, though to keep the game going.
- Double overtime saw the Eagles with an early opportunity penalty corner, but Boshoff's shot was blocked. Two minutes later, in the 73rd minute, AU earned another corner, but the Flames defended well again.
- In the 76th minute, the Flames would have a breakaway opportunity that resulted in a goal. The shot and circumstances would be subjected to video review and the goal was called back due to the ball meeting the backside of a Liberty stick.
- The contest would be decided by a penalty shootout when overtime ended still knotted 0-0; the Eagles would fall in the fifth round of the shootout 2-1.
UP NEXT
- The Eagles squad will be competing in the Maryland Terrapin Invitational. On Friday, Sept. 8 the team will take on Yale at 7:30 p.m. and will then face off with Miami (Ohio) on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 2:30 p.m.
KEEP UP WITH US
