Nov. 7, 2008

2008 Patriot League Field Hockey Championship

Washington, D.C. - Top-seeded American and third-seeded Bucknell scored decisive wins on Friday to advance to Saturday's Patriot League Field Hockey Championship. Top-seeded American defeated Colgate, 5-1, in the morning semifinal, while third-seeded Bucknell upset second-seeded Lafayette, 4-2, in the afternoon. American will be seeking its sixth consecutive Patriot League Championship. Bucknell, which is making its fourth appearance in the Patriot League title game, will be pursuing its first Patriot League crown. Saturday's title game will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the William I. Jacobs Recreational Complex on the campus of American University.

No. 1 American 5, No. 4 Colgate 1

Top-seeded American struck early and often in its 5-1 semifinal victory over fourth-seeded Colgate in the Patriot League Field Hockey Tournament. The Eagles scored twice in the game's first 11 minutes to seize early control.

Junior forward Savannah Graybill put American on the scoreboard 8:34 into the game. Graybill took a long cross from the right end line and snuck it past Colgate goalkeeper Sarah Pederson for an early American advantage. Just 1:49 later, Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Irene Schickhardt collected a rebound and found Anne Van Erp open near the goal. Van Erp promptly deposited the ball into the cage, giving American a 2-0 lead.

The Eagles added to their lead with just over five minutes remaining in the half when Shickhardt took the ball from the left end and fired a shot into the net while falling to the turf.

Colgate responded after halftime, becoming just the second Patriot League team this season to score on the American defense. Just 33 seconds into the second half, First-Team All-Patriot League selection Lauren Carey took a pass from junior forward Katelyn Nerbonne and flipped it past American goalkeeper Alyssa Poorman.

The Eagles answered three minutes later with a goal by Rachel Carney. The junior midfielder scored off an assist from Van Erp after multiple American shots. The Eagles added to the final tally with a goal at the 59:35 mark. Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Anne-Meike De Wiljes found Melissa Casale, who found the back of the cage for her first goal of the season.

With the victory, American improved to 11-7 and advanced to the Patriot League Championship for the sixth consecutive year. The Eagles have not lost to a Patriot League foe since 2002. Colgate finished the season with a 9-9 record.

No. 3 Bucknell 4, No. 2 Lafayette 2

Third-seeded Bucknell avenged a double-overtime loss to Lafayette earlier in the season with a resounding 4-2 semifinal win over the second-seeded Leopards in the Patriot League Field Hockey Tournament.

Bucknell scored twice in a span of 1:46 to seize early momentum. The Bison drew first blood with a goal by Katie Ruiz 9:23 into the game. Corrine Raczek found Ruiz with a cross from the right side to set up Ruiz's seventh goal of the season. Bucknell added to its lead less than two minutes later with a scoring strike by First-Team All-Patriot League selection Trina Boyer. Kelly Bruvik found Boyer after repeated rebounds in front of the goal.

Lafayette inched closer with Maggie Condon's 15th goal of the season.Condon, a First-Team All-Patriot League selection, scored off a penalty corner with 13 minutes left in the first half, thanks to assists by Jaclyn DiSanti and Lindsay Majno.

Bucknell regained control 10 minutes into the second half on Boyer's second goal of the game. Boyer chased down a long ball and beat a pair of defenders for her 10th goal of the season. With 12:38 left in the game, the Bison added an insurance goal off a penalty corner. Morgan Kauffman set the ball to Steph Graf, who fed First-Team All-Patriot League selection Amanda Faust for her 10th goal of the season.

Lafayette did not go down quietly, notching a goal with 11:05 left in the contest. Junior midfielder Bridget Hilbig scored off a feed from senior defender Lauren Jones. Bucknell freshman goalkeeper Sarah Zargarpour, who entered the game in the second half, made two saves in the game's final 15 minutes to preserve the Bucknell victory.

Lafayette closed the season with a 12-7 overall record. Bucknell, which improved to 11-7, will meet American in the Patriot League Championship Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Championship Match-up

Saturday will mark the first time American and Bucknell have met in the Patriot League Championship. American has won five consecutive League titles. Bucknell will be pursuing its first League title. The last time the Bison played in the Patriot League Championship was in 2000, when Holy Cross claimed the title. Though Bucknell is led by first-year head coach Jeremy Cook, he is well-known by the American program. Cook formerly served as an assistant coach for American under current Eagles coach Steve Jennings. Both Cook and Jennings played for the United States national field hockey team. Saturday's championship tilt will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the William I. Jacobs Recreational Complex on the campus of American University.