WASHINGTON –– American field hockey will split the weekend, home and away, facing William & Mary at the Jacobs Complex on Friday, Sept. 11 at 3 p.m. before traveling to Maryland to face Towson at 12 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Quick Info – William & Mary

• Date & Time: Friday, September 11, 3 p.m.
• Site: Washington, D.C. (Jacob's Complex)
• Series History: William & Mary leads, 14-10
• TV: ESPN+

Quick Info – Towson

• Date & Time: Sunday, September 13, 12 p.m.
• Site: Washington, D.C. (Jacob's Complex)
• Series History: American leads, 32-5
• Livestream: N/A

Scouting the Eagles

• The Eagles are now 1-3 on the season after their win over App State on Sunday. Looking to turn around a slow start to their season, the squad will host William & Mary on Friday (Sept. 11) and then head to Towson on Sunday (Sept. 13). AU went 15-0 against these two opponents last year, blanking the Tribe 10-0 and the Tigers 5-0.
• On Sunday against App, AU struck first with a goal in the second period. The Mountaineers tied it all up a 1 within three minutes after restarting play from halftime, and with under four minutes remaining in regulation, Sophie Willemse scored the game winner.
• American's first goal was scored by first year Sam Kockx. It was her first collegiate goal, coming off a deflection off a scorching drag pass from the top of the offensive third that was sent in by Willemse.
• Willemse's game winning goal late in the fourth quarter was her first of the season. The senior played a complete game, anchoring the defensive line.
• Olivia Morraye and Emilia Winkler earned assists on the game winning goal that came from a penalty corner inserted by Morraye and stopped by Winkler.

Scouting the Tribe

• The Tribe is 1-2 on the season after being blanked by then No. 6 ranked Duke, 0-7, and then winning 5-2 over Longwood before falling most recently to VCU, 2-4, on Sunday.
• William & Mary scored early and late in Sunday's contest, recording the first and last goal of the game, in the fifth minute and in the 54th minute. All four of VCU's goals came in the second period.
• W&M's goals were scored by Josie Mae Gruendel and Hailey Haynes with Callia Uviedo and Kate Longo assisting on the second goal. Gruendel now has two goals on the season and so does first year Haynes, each having scored once against Longwood as well.
• With the win over Longwood, head coach Tess Ellis earned her 100th career victory. Ellis has been the head coach of the Tribe since the 2013 season and has been honored as the CAA Coach of the Year four times–2013, 2014, 2018, and 2019–including her first season as head coach. Under Ellis, the Tribe has been .500 or better in CAA play in 10 of her 13 seasons.
• Senior Gruendel was named to the Preseason All-CAA Field hockey team as an honorable mention selection; at the conclusion of the 2025 season, she earned Second Team All-CAA honors.

Scouting the Tigers

• Towson has started the season with a 2-2 record, dropping their first two games, both on the road, before picking up two wins in a row at home. The team is also 1-1 in overtime games, dropping their first game of the season 1-0 to App State in overtime and winning its most recent contest against Rider 1-0 in overtime.
• Ava McConnell, with two of the Tigers' three goals against Georgetown, leads the team in goals (2) and points (4) early on. Anouk Westerink already has a goal–against Georgetown–and an assist, earned on the lone goal against Rider in the 70th minute of the contest.
• The overtime goal was scored by Bailey Masten, a sophomore midfielder, who has already matched her season high in goals and bested her shots on goal record from her freshman year.
• Four Tigers were named to the NFHCA Division I watchlist: senior Lydia Benett, juniors Westerink and Olivia Miller, and first year Ann Njoroge. Westerink was also named to the Preseason All-CAA team as well.
• Already this season, Bennett has been named to the CAA Defensive Player of the Week for anchoring a back line that allowed just one goal from nine shots, only allowing four on goal, this most recent weekend against the Hoyas and the Broncs.

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