Nov. 11, 2008
Center Valley, Pa.--The 19th-ranked American University field hockey team will be heading south for the NCAA Tournament. It was announced on Tuesday evening that American will open the tournament against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C.
The Eagles, who won a sixth consecutive Patriot League championship on Saturday, defeated Lock Haven on Tuesday in an NCAA Play-In Game to advance to the round of 16. American enters the tournament with a 13-7 record, including a 5-0 mark in Patriot League regular season competition.
American will commence tournament play on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Kentner Stadium against host Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons are the No. 2 overall seed in the tournament after compiling a 19-3 record. Wake Forest was the Atlantic Coast Conference runner-up after dropping a 4-3 decision to top-ranked Maryland in the ACC Tournament. Wake Forest will be the fifth top-five team that American has face this season. The Eagles have played a total of eight ranked teams during the 2008 campaign.
Other teams in American's bracket include fourth-ranked James Madison and 12th-ranked Virginia. The Dukes and Cavaliers will square off at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. The winners of Saturday's contests will meet on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. for the right to advance to the national semifinals. The national semifinals and championship will be held at Trager Stadium in Louisville, Ky.
