WASHINGTON – In the final seconds of American University field hockey's game against Colgate, senior forward Federica Turina Dellamaggiore sent a last-grasp, backhanded shot toward the goal and with two seconds on the clock clinched the 3-2 win for the Eagles.

QUICK NOTABLES

• The first two goals for AU were scored by senior Kaleigh Missimer. The forward has played limited minutes this season while returning from injury, but didn't miss a step, scoring both in open play and from a penalty stroke.
• Turnia Dellamaggiore's goal was her third of the season and first in conference game play.
• Starting in goal for the Eagles, and playing the entire contest, was junior Pauline Gineste. It was her first start with AU. She made two saves in the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The opening quarter saw the Eagles out-shoot the Raiders, 3-1. American earned its first of three penalty corners, but nothing broke through for either side.
• Missimer opened the scoring for the day when after receiving a pass from Emily Horace she battled around her defender and van Kepmen in goal to get off a quick backhanded shot and put the Eagles up 1-nil. Scored in the 20th minute, it was Missimer's first goal of the season.
• With halftime looming, the Raiders scored their first goal in the 26th minute. The connection between Morgan Willis and Dani Palmer would occur twice in the game. The first time, Willis would be the goal scorer, and Palmer would earn the assist to equalize, 1-all, going into halftime.
• The Raiders would strike first in the second half. In the 37th minute, Palmer would score off an assist from Willis and Colgate would lead, 2-1. It was AU's first time trailing in a game since Delaware (Sept. 22).  
• Colgate's lead was knocked out in the first minute of the fourth quarter. Missimer stepping up to the spot after American was awarded a penalty stroke. The attempt would fly up and straight through the outstretched arms of van Kempen to hit the back of the goal, tying it up at 2-all with fourteen minutes remaining.
• It looked like the game would be headed to overtime, with each team having made push backs on the other in the final quarter to find the game winner.
• With 15 seconds remaining, American regained possession on their edge of their defensive circle. Olivia Morraye would send a long ball through up the field that reached van Kempen who kicked it away. That kick would land right in the path of Turina Dellamaggiore who, with four seconds, corralled the ball into the circle and sent off a back-handed shot that would dodge two defenders and van Kepmen on its way into the cage.
• Turina Dellamaggiore's goal crossed into the cage with two seconds remaining on the clock. 

FROM HEAD COACH JENNINGS
"For me, we really pulled a rabbit out of a hat. Maybe we could have won in overtime, but that's up in the air. I think for us to learn a lesson from a win about how serious we have to be, how much we have to bring our 'A' game all the time, and how prepared we need to be. It's an important lesson going forward and fortunately we got the win today and stay in a position to control our own destiny."

COMING UP
The Eagles will be back at home for a Friday (Oct. 11) afternoon face-off with Boston University at 2 p.m. at the Jacobs Complex. The game will be American's cancer awareness game.

KEEP UP WITH US
For the latest on Eagles Field Hockey, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow us on our official Instagram (@aufieldhockey) and Twitter (@AU_FieldHockey) accounts.
 
American 3, Colgate 2
Scoring: AU – Kaleigh Missimer, 19:50; COLGATE – Morgan Willis (Dani Palmer), 25:14; COLGATE – Dani Palmer (Morgan Willis), 36:16; AU – Kaleigh Missimer, 46:48 (pen stroke); AU – Federica Turina Dellamaggiore, 59:59
Shots: AU 20 (3/8/5/4), Colgate 6 (1/1/2/2)
Penalty Corners: AU 3 (1/0/2/0), Colgate 3 (0/0/1/2)
Goalkeeper Saves: AU 2 (Pauline Gineste, 60:00, 2 saves, 2 goals allowed); Colgate 8 (Claire van Kempen, 60:00, 8 saves, 3 goals allowed)
Records: AU 6-5 (2-0 PL), Colgate 2-7 (0-2 PL)