CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Capping off her second-straight five-goal performance,
Reagan Murdoch netted the game winning goal for the American University lacrosse team in overtime against UNC Charlotte. The Eagles used six different goal scorers and a season-high 18 draw controls to deliver the 49ers their first home loss of the season.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Murdoch's five goals led the way for AU, followed by hat tricks from Kellie Linehan and Annabelle Jackson. Linehan added two assists, and Jackson had one as well.
- A pair goals from Maddy Spratt and one apiece from Alyssa Apuzzo and Becca Frank rounded out the scoring for the Eagles.
- AU had their most efficient offensive game of the season so far, putting 21 of 28 shots on goal and scoring on 53% of their shots.
- In the same game in which she collected her 100th career draw control, Spratt went on to record a career-high 13 on the day. She contributed to AU's best day of the season from the circle, as the Eagles won 18 total.
- The American defense was stifling in the first half, holding Charlotte to just seven shots on goal and allowing zero free position opportunities.
- Senior defender Darby Sherrod scooped up a career-high five ground balls, and freshman Caroline McBride picked up her first collegiate assist on a goal from Spratt. Junior Kristen Hegarty also picked up her first assist of the season.
- Today's win marks the second road victory of the season for the Eagles.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Frank, Linehan, Spratt, and Murdoch got the Eagles out to a 4-0 lead with goals in the first quarter. Frank scored just 34 seconds in off a feed from Murdoch, Linehan bursted past a defender to score unassisted at 11:55, and Spratt did the same at the 7:37 mark. Murdoch added the fourth goal off a free position chance at 5:35.
- The AU defense hardly bent in the first quarter, keeping Charlotte off the board until Claire Schotta finally beat Caleigh Forti with 3:27 remaining. The senior goalkeeper made four saves in the frame, including a doorstep denial of Schotta from just outside the crease.
- American dominated the draw in the first, winning possession in six of seven opportunities.
- Spratt added her second goal of the game with 1:39 remaining in the quarter to give AU a 5-1 edge.
- The 49ers narrowed the score to 5-3 with back-to-back tallies from Isa Torres and Brooke Alessandrini at the start of the second quarter.
- Murdoch and Apuzzo responded for AU, bringing the lead back up to four before the end of the half. Murdoch scored off a feed from Jackson, an Apuzzo buried a beautiful shot in transition. She was given a lead pass from Juliet Kuenzler off of a Charlotte turnover, fired her shot on the run from just inside the eight-meter, bouncing it off the left post and in. 7-3 was the halftime score.
- Kellie Linehan helped keep AU's foot on the gas with a goal at the start of the third quarter, then Jackson added two more that gave American its largest lead of the game at 10-4.
- The 49ers won two draw controls in a row that led to goals from Alexa Ayotte and Kylie Gioia to make the score 10-6, but Murdoch and Jackson struck again for the Eagles before the end of the quarter. Jackson's goal was an exciting one, as a pass from Caleigh Forti started an end-to-end break that led to an open look at the buzzer for Jackson.
- Charlotte refused to fall out of the game, starting the fourth quarter with goals from Alessandrini Ella Suglia to make the score 12-9.
- After goals from Murdoch and Linehan gave AU a 14-10 lead with 6:55 left to play, the 49ers charged back into the game. They scored four straight goals, with Gioia tying the game at the one-minute mark.
- Spratt hustled to win the crucial open draw of overtime after a long scramble for the ball, giving the Eagles the first chance at a game-winner.
- Linehan was doubled after Murdoch set a screen for her at the top of the eight-meter, then she lobbed a pass to her open teammate. Just in front of goal, Murdoch powered her shot to the bottom right corner to finish off a perfectly executed play and give AU the victory.
NEXT UP
The Eagles will be in Patriot League play for the remainder of the regular season, beginning with a home matchup against Lehigh this coming Saturday March 15. First draw is set for 12:00 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED
- For the latest on AU Lacrosse, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_Lacrosse) and Instagram (@au_wlax).