Nov. 10, 2009

Washington, D.C. - American has advanced to the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament for the second year in a row and sixth time in the past seven seasons, and the Eagles will visit the top seed in the event when they play at Maryland, the defending national champion, on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. The Eagles made the field with a 2-1 win over Lock Haven in the Play-In game on Tuesday afternoon.

The Eagles and Terrapins met earlier this year at American in a game which Maryland won, 3-0, after scoring two late goals to put the lead out of reach. American has faced Maryland twice in the NCAA Tournament, both times in the Elite Eight, but was beaten 2-0 in 2004 and 3-0 in 2005. American fell in the first round of last year's NCAA Tournament, 7-1, at No. 2 Wake Forest.

A goal in the final minute of the first half and another early in the second half lifted American to a 2-1 victory over Northeast Conference champion Lock Haven on Tuesday in an NCAA Field Hockey Play-In game at William I. Jacobs Recreational Complex.

It appeared a dominant first half was not going to result in a goal for American, but the Eagles finally converted on their fifth penalty corner opportunity with just 35 seconds to play in the period. Anne Van Erp fed the ball in, and Kirstin Gebhardt left it at the top of the circle for Anne-Meike de WIljes to tally the goal to put American up, 1-0, at the break.

Christine Fingerhuth scored a huge unassisted insurance goal with 24:03 to play in the game to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead. Lock Haven closed the gap to 2-1 with 20:02 left in the contest and had some pressure late in the game, but American was able to hold on and win the Play-In game for the second year in a row.

American held a 12-8 advantage over Lock Haven in shots for the game and dominated the Lady Eagles with a 7-1 margin in penalty corners. De Wiljes took a game-high four shots with three going on goal while Fingerhuth made three attempts at the cage with two on goal.

American defeated Lock Haven in the Play-In game at home last year by a 2-0 score. The seven-time Patriot League champion Eagles will go to the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row and sixth time in the past seven seasons.