WASHINGTON – Despite a hotly contested matchup in which each side traded goals, American University lacrosse was unable to hold off the bevy of shots from crosstown rival Georgetown as the Eagles fell 18-13 in the season opener at home.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Sophomore Reagan Murdoch led the offensive effort for American with four goals and an assist on five shots on goal. She added another three ground balls in the effort.
• Sophomore Kellie Linehan scored a pair of goals to go along with an assist while also corralling a ground ball.
• A pair of juniors, Becca Frank and Maddy Spratt, added another four points each as they each netted two goals and two assists.
• Senior Hannah Spease and freshman Jasmine Connor each added a goal on their lone shot attempts. Spease also caused a turnover while Connor recorded a draw control.
• Junior Alyssa Apuzzo helped add three points for the Eagles with a goal and a pair of assists.
• Junior Caleigh Forti earned the start and made 15 saves while Georgetown put 33 shots on goal. For the game, Georgetown was able to put 33 of its 44 shots on goal while American put 16 of its 21 on goal.

• Georgetown opened the game with a quick score, 24 seconds into the game before adding a second score several minutes later with 7:51 remaining in the first frame.
• American roared back with a pair of goals, the first coming just over a minute later as Spratt took a pass from Frank and put the Eagles on the board while a man-up. Connor leveled the score two minutes later with her first goal as an Eagle.
• The Hoyas were able to retake the lead just before the end of the quarter with another goal, earning a 3-2 lead heading into the second frame.
• The Eagles were quick to respond in the second quarter as Spease scored a man-up goal with an assist from Apuzzo 34 seconds into the frame. Linehan added to the fast start with a goal of her own, courtesy of an assist from Frank two minutes later.
• American's early lead in the second, however, was the last it would have for the game as Georgetown scored three goals in as many minutes halfway through the quarter to take a 6-4 lead.
• Spratt and Murdoch would keep the Eagles in the hunt with a goal each in the second quarter, but the Hoyas took a 9-6 lead into the half after putting 14 shots on goal to American's eight.
• The second half opened to a slower half as offensive efforts were stifled early through the third quarter. Georgetown was able to break the deadlock, though, with a goal at the 4:32 mark before Frank answered for American with a goal of her own.
• Despite the slow start to the third quarter, the Hoyas closed the frame with a trio of goals in the final 2:08 to take a 13-7 lead into the final quarter.
• Murdoch started off the final frame in fine fashion for the Eagles with an unassisted goal 1:26 into the quarter before the Hoyas earned one of their own.
• Apuzzo added another goal for the Eagles, but the Georgetown's offensive efforts found fruition with three straight goals before Linehan, Murdoch and Frank each found the back of the net for three straight goals for American.
• Georgetown and American traded another goal each in the final couple of minutes with Murdoch scoring the final goal for the Eagles.

NEXT UP
American heads across town Tuesday for a 3 p.m.  start at Howard. American's next home game is slated for Friday, February 16, with a 1 p.m. game against Loyola Maryland..

For the latest on AU Lacrosse, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_Lacrosse) and Instagram (@au_wlax).