WASHINGTON – Emily Horace and Jordan Reicher were the offensive difference in the American University field hockey team's game against William & Mary on Friday (Sept. 20) evening. Paired with a stalwart defensive unit, the Eagles were able to soar to a 2-nil shutout victory over the Tribe.
 
QUOTES FROM COACH JENNINGS
"I just love how aggressive we were. I thought we created a lot of scoring opportunities, and we won a lot of corners. I think we had a lot of offensive push, and we gave ourselves numerous chances to be on the board, so I think that was awesome. And then our deep defense, other than a flurry of corners we conceded in the first quarter, I think we did a great job."

QUICK NOTABLES

• The Eagles outshot the Tribe 22-4, including 14-2 in shots on goal in the contest. American also carried an 8-4 advantage in penalty corners.
• Graduate student Horace was the AU's first goal scorer of the afternoon, setting the tone for the game when she scored in the fifth minute of play.
• Reicher's goal in the final quarter is her fifth in four games. She currently leads the Eagles offensively with 14 points from six goals and two assists. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• American started out on the front foot, coming in hot with a goal in the fifth minute of the game to make sure the Eagles had the lead and asserted their intentions. Senior striker Rebecca Bonness assisted on the goal, earning her first assist of the season.
• William & Mary didn't go away though, not yet, and late in the first period had three successive penalty corners, their fourth and final coming a minute later and with one minute remaining in the opening frame. Nothing came of those corners though, aside from two saves from Bryn Underwood, and the period ended with American leading 1-nil.
• After registering eight shots in the first period, the Eagles tacked on another eight in the second, but five saves from the Tribe's keeper Maddie George kept the scoreline from swaying further in AU's direction even with four more AU penalty corners. The halftime scoreline was the same as it had been for 25 minutes of the first half, AU leading 1-nil.
• The Eagles struggled coming out of the halftime break, their groove being disrupted by three cards. Two green cards were issued to Eagles within thirty seconds of each other in the 37th and 38th minutes of the game to give the Tribe a 2-player advantage. William & Mary was unable to capitalize though on the advantage and didn't register a shot.
• At the end of the third, the Tribe received a card of their own but held possession and ran down the clock through the end of the period to keep from allowing the Eagles to move forward and wreaking any damage.
• The Tribe's defensive efforts at the end of the third were valiant but didn't last after the break, as early in the 47th minute of the game, and third minute of the fourth and final frame, Reicher cut through the middle of the defense off a William & Mary turnover. Reicher's run through the defense saw a slap shot that hit the back of the cage so hard the sound echoed around Jacobs Complex. The Eagles led 2-nil.
• With the remainder of the game, the Eagles were able to get off three more shots and earn their eighth and final penalty corner of the contest but wouldn't be able to again break past Maddie George who recorded 12 saves for the game.
• American would go on to win 2-0 at home and Underwood, along with the efforts of her defensive unit, would register a second clean sheet on the season.  

UP NEXT
The Eagles are back home at Jacobs to take on Delaware on Sunday (Sept. 22) at 1 pm. The game on Sunday will be the Eagles' youth field hockey day with a free post-game clinic.
 
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