Ninthe Botman carrying the ball into the attacking circle against Richmond.
Grayson Rupp
3
Winner American AMERICAN (10-5, 5-0)
1
Lehigh LEHIGH (3-12, 1-4)
Winner
American AMERICAN
(10-5, 5-0)
3
Final
1
Lehigh LEHIGH
(3-12, 1-4)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
American AMERICAN 1 0 2 0 3
Lehigh LEHIGH 0 0 1 0 1

Game Recap: Field Hockey |

Eagles Clinch No. 1 Seed for PL Championship With 3-1 Win Over Lehigh

BETHLEHEM, Pa. –– The Eagles of the American University field hockey team have clinched the No. 1 seed and hosting duties for the Patriot League Championship with their 3-1 win over Lehigh on Friday night. They also have at least a share of the regular-season title with their win over the Mountain Hawks, with a chance to become outright champions with a win over Holy Cross next Saturday, Nov. 1.

Quick Notables
  • Jordan Reicher once again found herself back on the stat sheet when she scored the Eagles' first goal of the evening. The junior striker now has a team-leading 10 goals on the season.
  • Classmate Alyssa Freeman was the assist on AU's first goal. The forward already has two goals on the year, but this was her first assist.
  • Ninthe Botman, of an assist from junior midfielder Emilia Winkler, was able to score her sixth of the season. The freshman is third on the team in goals scored. Winkler has a team leading-eight assists.
  • Sarah Steinman and Kendall Varty connected for the third Eagles' goal. Steinman notched her second goal of the season and Varty her first assist.
How It Happened
American was able to dominate the first quarter, keeping most of the play in the middle and attacking third, not allowing a single shot from Lehigh. With time winding down in the first, it was Reicher, on an assist from Freeman, who was able to get off her signature backhand shot and put the Eagles up 1-nil through one.
 
Nothing was going for either team until after the halftime break, when in the 35th minute, Botman was able to double the lead for the Eagles to give them a bit of insurance.
 
There were two goals in quick succession to finish out the third period. The Eagles struck first, Steinman finding the back of the cage on a pass from Varty put the Eagles up 3-nil in the 43rd minute. In the 44th minute, Madison Noh, on a solo breakaway effort, was able to get past Pauline Gineste and put the Mountain Hawks on the board, 3-1, and prevent the AU clean sheet.
 
The fourth quarter saw three AU shots on goal and one shot on target for the Mountain Hawks, but nothing was going for either team. American claimed the conference victory, 3-1.
 
From Head Coach Jennings
"Tonight, we were not able to fire on all cylinders, but fortunately, we were able to connect on enough plays to get the result. Lehigh has some very talented players and created threats whenever we did not play sound, situational hockey. We will need to learn from some key moments and make sure we raise our game for Sunday's contest."

Coming Up
The Eagles are out on the road with for one more game until the final game of the regular season. For their next matchup, they'll take on Delaware on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. before returning home to D.C. for Senior Day and Alumni Day against Holy Cross on Nov. 1.
 
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American 3,  Lehigh 1
Scoring:  AU – Jordan Reicher (Alyssa Freeman), 13:02; AU – Ninthe Botman (Emilia Winkler), 34:04; AU – Sarah Steinman (Kendall Varty), 42:50; LU – Madison Noh, 43:54
Shots: AU 11 (2/2/4/3), LU 8 (0/3/4/1)
Penalty Corners: AU 4 (1/1/1/1), LU 4 (0/3/1/0)
Goalkeeper Saves: AU 4 (Pauline Gineste, 60:00, 4 saves, 1 goal allowed); LU 6 (Kate Burgess, 60:00, 3 saves, 3 goals allowed)
Records: AU 10-5 (5-0 PL), LU 3-12 (1-4 PL)
 
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