WORCESTER, Mass. - Troy Elgersma gave Eagles the lead in the first half of Friday night's match at Holy Cross with a successful penalty kick, and Toshi Davis regained the advantage in the 73^rd minute to seal a 2-1 victory over the Crusaders. The win earns American a first round bye in the Patriot League Tournament, and gives them a chance to secure the number one seed either on Friday night or next Tuesday. 

Notable

• Elgersma's goal was his fourth of season, giving him eight points on the year. Davis's tally was his first of the season and second of his career. 
• Parra picked up the assist on Davis' goal, his second of the season. 
• Matthew Tibbetts made four saves on the night. 
• AU took 12 shots and generated a season-high eight corner kicks. 
• The Eagles are now 7-7-2 overall and 6-1-1 in Patriot League play. They're undefeated in their last four Patriot League matches, and the six PL wins are the program's most since 2021. 
• If Lehigh loses to Colgate on Friday night, American will have clinched the number one seed and home field advantage through the Patriot League Tournament.
• If the Mountain Hawks defeat Colgate, the Eagles still control their own destiny and can clinch the one seed with a win on Tuesday in the last match of the regular season against Navy. Further tiebreaking scenarios will be detailed ahead of Tuesday's contest. 

How it Happened

• American was in control for the majority of the first half, even seeing a scoring chance on a near blunder from Holy Cross in the opening minutes. Elgersma lofted a long ball from midfield that was misplayed in the box by John Smith, who dove to save it from going in just feet from the goal line. 
• The Eagles threatened again in the 12^th minute, when Mustapha Sowe caused a turnover at midfield that led to a breakout in the attacking third. Chris Sullivan fed Elgersma in the box, and the senior put the ball into the top left corner of the net. Before AU could celebrate, the far side official had called Elgersma offside. 
• It was Sullivan doing the striking American's next scoring chance in the 26^th minute. On the counterattack, Sowe raced through the midfield with pace and lead a ball up ahead to Sullivan at the top right side of the box. He tried his luck from distance, squaring a right-footed shot that hit the right post and trickled across the six-yard box. 
• A minute later, Finn O'Brien touched a header off a corner kick that went just wide of the right post. 
• The Crusaders came up with their best chance of the half in the 30th minute, when Jack Fiedler also put a header just wide of the right post. 
• AU earned the penalty kick after Holy Cross was whistled for a hand ball in the box, following a review of the play. Elgersma buried the PK to the bottom right corner, giving the Eagles the lead with 3:33 remaining in the half. It had been building for AU, finally breaking through and taking the advantage into the locker room. 
• The home side had a response 15 minutes into the second half. Off a corner kick, Jeff Snead headed a shot on target that was saved off the line by Oliver Snowdon. The deflection fell into carnage in the box, and Liam Heneghan got his foot to the ball to poke it past the goal line. With 30 minutes to play, score was tied 1-1. 
• Holy Cross had new life, continuing to create and open up AU's defense. Three minutes after the equalizer, Archie Hatcher fired a low shot from the left side of the box off the right post. Shortly after that, Finn O'Brien was forced to save a shot off the line from Fielder.
• Surviving the spell of danger from the Crusaders, the Eagles turned in their response in the 73^rd minute. Off a turnover in Holy Cross's half, Reyes Parra took a shot the forced a diving save from Smith. Davis pounced on the loose rebound, booting his shot to the top of the frame to regain the lead for AU. 
• The Eagles defense held strong the rest of the way, blocking three of Holy Cross's next four shots before the final whistle blew. 

Up Next

• AU returns home for the regular season finale against Navy on Tuesday, Nov. 4 at Reeves Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

Keep up With Us

• For the latest on American University men's soccer and to receive in-game updates, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on X (@AU_MSoccer) and Instagram (@au.msoccer).