Nov. 5, 2008

Center Valley, Pa. - American will host the Patriot League Field Hockey Championship for the fourth straight year at the William I. Jacobs Recreational Complex in Washington, D.C. Joining the top-seeded Eagles will be No. 2 Lafayette, No. 3 Bucknell and No. 4 Colgate. Tournament play will begin on Friday, Nov. 7 with two semifinal games and will conclude on Saturday, Nov. 8 with the championship tilt.

No. 1 American will take on No. 4 Colgate at 11 a.m. on Friday in the first semifinal game of the day. The second semifinal game will feature No. 2 Lafayette versus No.3 Bucknell at 1:30 p.m. The winners of the two semifinal games will move on to the championship contest on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Semifinal Matchups (Friday)

No. 1 American (10-7, 5-0 PL) vs. No. 4 Colgate (9-8, 2-3 PL), 11:00 a.m.

American Notebook

American posted its sixth consecutive perfect Patriot League season (5-0) to earn the No. 1 seed in the tourney. Head Coach Steve Jennings directed the 19th-ranked Eagles to a 10-7 overall record. American has played in the Patriot League Tournament each year since joining the League in 2001. The Eagles served as the No. 3 seed in 2001 and 2002 and have been the No. 1 seed and tournament champion every year since. The squad is ranked in the top 25 in the NCAA in five statistical categories and is led by All-American Irene Schickhardt. Schickhardt is a four-time All-Patriot League selection. She leads the Patriot League in points (36), points per game (2.12) and goals per game (0.82). She shares the League-lead in goals with 14, including seven game-winners. Junior Anne-Meike De Wiljes anchors an American defense that allowed just one goal in League play. Junior goalkeeper Alyssa Poorman ranks in the top 20 nationally in goals against average and save percentage. She has seven shutouts this season and 14 for her career, which ranks her fifth in the annals of the Patriot League.

Colgate Notebook

Colgate went 9-8 overall and 2-3 in the Patriot League. The Raiders are making their second consecutive Patriot League Tournament appearance and their seventh overall. Head Coach Cathy Foto has guided the Raiders to one Patriot League Tournament title (1996) in her 18 seasons at Colgate. The Raiders lost their final two regular season games, falling to Bucknell and Lafayette. Senior Lauren Carey leads the Raiders' offensive attack, while fellow-senior Maddie Watrobski controls the defense. Carey leads the team and ranks third in the Patriot League with 11 goals. She also has contributed four assists, giving her a team-leading 26 points. Watrobski has steadied the young Colgate defense, while also providing a team-leading nine assists.

Head-To-Head

During regular-season competition, American garnered a 2-0 win over Colgate. Savannah Graybill and Rachel Carney scored off a pair of penalty corners 52 seconds apart to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead just over 12 minutes into the contest. The Eagles and Raiders have met twice in the Patriot League Tournament, with American winning both games. American beat Colgate 4-1 in the semifinal round a year ago. The Eagles also beat the Raiders, 3-0, in the 2004 championship contest.

No. 2 Lafayette (12-6, 4-1 PL) vs. No. 3 Bucknell (10-7, 2-3 PL), 1:30 p.m. Lafayette Notebook

Second-year head coach Andrew Griffiths led the Leopards to a 12-6 overall record and a 4-1 mark in League play. Lafayette is making its third consecutive appearance in the Patriot League Tournament, including a berth in last year's championship. The Leopards have qualified for the Patriot League Tournament 12 times. Lafayette has won the tournament seven times. Senior Maggie Condon, a three-time First-Team All-Patriot-League honoree, paces the Leopards offensively. She shares the League-lead in goals with 14. She is second in the Patriot League in points with 33. Sophomore Meghan Cicchi, also a First-Team All-Patriot League selection, leads a Lafayette defense that held three of its five Patriot League opponents scoreless. She has also registered a goal and an assist.

Bucknell Notebook

First-year head coach Jeremy Cook brings Bucknell University into the tournament as the number-three seed. The Bison will be pursuing their first Patriot League field hockey championship. Bucknell has made three appearances in the League title game, most recently in 2000. Bucknell was last in the tournament in 2006, when the Bison lost to American in the semifinals, 4-2. The Bison are 10-7 this season, including a 2-3 record in Patriot League play. Four-time All-Patriot League defender Amanda Faust ranks third in the Patriot League with 28 points. She is also fourth in assists (10) and fifth in goals (nine). Her classmate, Trina Boyer, earned All-Patriot League recognition this season for the first time in her career. She scored eight goals during the regular season to rank seventh in the Patriot League.

Head-To-Head

These two squads opened the Patriot League season in thrilling fashion. In the first League game for both teams, Lafayette edged Bucknell, 2-1, in double overtime in Easton, Pa. In relief of Jessie Atieh, Bucknell goalkeeper Sarah Zargarpour made five saves, including three in overtime, but Maggie Condon snuck the game-winning goal past her in the 91st minute.

Championship (Saturday)

Winner 1/4 Seed vs. Winner 2/3 Seed, 1:30 p.m.

Potential Match-Ups

American has beaten both Bucknell and Lafayette. The Eagles topped the Bison, 4-0. American beat Lafayette, 3-1. Both Bucknell and Lafayette have beaten Colgate. Bucknell edged the Raiders, 4-3. The Leopards beat Colgate, 2-0, in the regular season finale.

2008 Patriot League Field Hockey Tournament Schedule

Friday, Nov. 7

Semifinal 1: No. 1 American vs. No. 4 Colgate, 11 a.m.

Semifinal 2: No. 2 Lafayette vs. No. 3 Bucknell, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 8

Championship Game: Winner No. 1/4 seed vs. Winner 2/3 seed, 1:30 p.m.