Nov. 2, 2008
Center Valley, Pa.--The field has been set for the upcoming Patriot League Field Hockey Tournament. American completed its undefeated run through the Patriot League regular season with a 6-0 win over Lehigh to claim the top seed. As a result, the Eagles will host the tournament, which begins Friday.
Lafayette, which defeated Colgate, 2-0, on Saturday, received the No. 2 seed after finishing League play with a 4-1 mark. Colgate, which fell to 2-3, dropped into a three-way tie for third place with Holy Cross and Bucknell. Holy Cross nipped Bucknell, 3-2, on Saturday, but the Crusaders were eliminated from the field based on the Patriot League's tie-breaker scenario. Bucknell and Colgate earned the final two spots in the Patriot League Tournament ahead of Holy Cross based on Division I winning percentage. Bucknell was granted the No. 3 seed, while Colgate will be the No. 4 seed.
Top-seeded American will meet fourth-seeded Colgate in the first semifinal game Friday at 11 a.m. at the William I. Jacobs Recreational Complex in Washington, D.C. The Eagles topped the Raiders, 2-0, on Oct. 11. The second game will match second-seeded Lafayette and third-seeded Bucknell at 1:30 p.m. The Leopards edged the Bison in double-overtime, 2-1, on Oct. 4. The two semifinal winners will meet in Saturday's Patriot League Championship at 1:30 p.m.
American has finished undefeated in regular season League play six straight seasons. The Eagles will be in pursuit of their sixth straight League tournament championship under head coach Steve Jennings. American defeated Lafayette, 3-1, to claim last year's League title. American has never lost a Patriot League Championship game.
The last time American did not win the Patriot League Championship was in 2002 when Lafayette defeated Holy Cross for the crown. Lafayette has appeared in 11 of 18 Patriot League Championship games, winning seven. Colgate will seek its first League Championship since 1996, when the Raiders defeated Lehigh for the title. The Raiders' last appearance in the title game was in 2004. Bucknell will pursue its first League title. The Bison have made three appearances in the League title game.
