Melissa
Casale of the field hockey team has been named the
American University Student Athlete of the Week presented by GEICO,
Department of Athletics officials announced Monday. Casale helped
the Eagles clinch their seventh consecutive Patriot League Regular
Season title this weekend with an 8-1 win over Lehigh on Sunday.
Casale led the way for the Eagles recording her first career
hatrick. Lehigh opened the game up with a quick goal, but their
lead did not last long as Casale scored her first goal of the day
off of a deflection to the top of the cage to even the score at
one. Right before halftime, with the Eagles leading 2-1, Casale got
on the board again. This time, Casale deflected a shot by Anne-Meike
de Wiljes off of a penalty corner, giving the Eagles a
two goal lead. Casale worked with sophomore classmate Alli
Baron for the Eagles final score of the day, as Baron
picked up a loose ball on the baseline and made a nice pass through
a defender to Casale at the right post.
Casale is currently third on the team with 22 points on nine
goals and four assists. She is ranks tenth in the Patriot League
for goals and is tied for ninth in points.
American will host the 2009 Patriot League Tournament next
Friday and Saturday, November 6-7, at Jacobs Field. Top-seeded
American will first play #4 Lehigh on Friday at 11 a.m. with #2
Bucknell and #3 Lafayette to meet at 1:30 p.m. The winner of these
games will play on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. to decide the 2009 Patriot
League Champion. Tickets to the tournament are priced at $5 for
adults and $3 for youth 17 and under and can be purchased the day
of the game at the gate.
Past Recipients:
Oct. 26,
2009 - Cooper Bryant (Men's Soccer)
Oct. 19, 2009 - Magdalina Tekiel (Volleyball)
Oct. 12,
2009 - Brooke Shepard (Women's Soccer)
Oct. 5,
2009 - Kelsey Brasher (Women's Soccer)
Sept. 28, 2009 - Mike Worden (Men's Soccer)
Sept. 21,
2009 - Claire Recht (Volleyball)
Sept. 14,
2009 - Anne-Meike de Wiljes (Field Hockey)
Sept. 8,
2009 - Daniel Shannon (Men's Soccer)
Aug. 31,
2009 - Mikaila Weaver (Women's Soccer)
2008-09
School Year
2007-08
School Year
