WASHINGTON - The American University field hockey team will be back home this weekend to host a pair of games at Jacobs Recreational Complex. The Eagles are set to compete on Friday, Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. against William & Mary, and will return for more action on Sunday, Sept. 22, hosting Delaware at 1 p.m.

Friday will be American's PRIDE Game and on Sunday the team will celebrate Youth Field Hockey Day, offering a free post-game clinic for children.

QUICK INFO

• Date & Time vs. William & Mary: Friday, September 20; 4 p.m.
• Date & Time vs. Delaware: Sunday, September 22; 1 p.m.
• Site: Washington, D.C. (Jacob's Complex)
• Series History vs. William & Mary: William & Mary leads, 28-13
• Series History vs. Delaware: Delaware leads, 8-1
• TV: ESPN+

Inside the Series vs. William & Mary

• The Tribe leads American 14-8. The first matchup between the programs was back in 1985 and the most recent was in 2022, where the Eagles recorded a 2-1 win over the Colonials.

Inside the Series vs. Delaware:

• Delaware leads 8-1 in the series that dates to 1981.
• The last matchup (10/1/23) resulted in a close, 1-2, loss for the Eagles. In their last six meetings, the Blue Hens have outscored the Eagles, 16-4.

Scouting the Eagles

• Last weekend, American traveled north to compete in the Terrapin Invitational hosted by Maryland. The Eagles came out with a win vs. Lock Haven and a narrow loss vs. No. 3 Virginia.
• On Friday, Sept.13, the team defeated Lock Haven 4-1 with a goal in each quarter. Jordan Reicher led the Eagles with two goals and an assist while Emma Guydish and Federica Turina Dellamaggiore each had one goal apiece.
• On Sunday, American pushed an undefeated No. 3 Virginia to overtime. American was first on the board after Rebecca Bonness cracked a shot into the upper left corner of the cage. Virginia responded with 40 seconds left in the half, sending the teams into the break tied, 1-all.
• Virginia brought energy into the second half of competition, recording their second goal in the 50th minute to put the Cavaliers up for the first time in the contest, leading 2-1.
• In the 56th minute, while Virginia was under a 5-minute yellow card penalty, Reicher capitalized on a turnover to equalize the score, 2-all. The Eagles led the Cavs into overtime, but ultimately fell after a golden goal in the 67th minute lifted UVA, 3-2.
• The weekend's efforts earned three players Patriot League Weekly Honors, with Bryn Underwood named Goalkeeper of the Week, Jordan Reicher taking Offensive Player of the Week, and Tayla-Jade Weiss earning Defensive Player of the Week.

Scouting the Tribe

• In William & Mary's last showing, the team dropped, 4-0, to James Madison. The Tribe is now 0-6 to start out the season, having faced fierce, nationally ranked competition.
• The 2024 season opened with a loss at No. 5 Duke, followed by a trio of battles at home versus Richmond, No. 8 Harvard, and No. 18 Old Dominion. Two losses on the road in their last two showings leave the Tribe hungry for their first win of the year.
• The team's two goals of the season are credited to All-American Pyper Friedman in the 17^th minute versus Richmond and in the 50^th minute versus No. 18 Old Dominion.
• The team is led by returning graduate students Friedman and Maddie George. In the cage, George has 63 saves this season over the Tribe's opponents' 7.
• The defending CAA Champion William & Mary field hockey program was picked second in the CAA preseason poll, placing three student-athletes on the preseason All-CAA team.

Scouting the Blue Hens

• Delaware is coming off a 1-0 loss to No. 6 Iowa and is looking to even its overall 2-3 season standing.
• The Hens ultimately fell to a Hawkeye goal in the 18th minute of play but showed a strong defensive performance with the UD defense shutting down six Iowa penalty corners.
• Graduate student Cecile van Eijck was a standout in the cage, making four saves and only allowing the lone Iowa goal.
• The previous day, the Blue Hens defeated New Hampshire in a 4-2 showcase that saw three players find the back of the cage; Kate Feist led the Hens with a pair of goals and Elle Patterson and Lulu Fulton each earned one apiece. Feist and Fulton currently lead the team in scoring, both having recorded two so far this season.
• Delaware was ranked fifth in the CAA preseason poll after going 3-3 in conference play last season. Senior Genevieve Johnson was named to the preseason All-CAA team after starting all 17 matches for the Hens and tallying three goals and one assist. Noelle Sabbagh and Rachael Whitehead received honorable mention for their contributions in Delaware's 2023 campaign.

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