Nov. 13, 2009

Center Valley, Pa. - The American Eagles are back in a familiar position: the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament. They have a daunting task ahead in the round of 16 on Saturday, as American travels to No. 1 seed and defending champion Maryland in an 11:30 a.m. start.

The Eagles made the field with a 2-1 win over Lock Haven in the Play-In game on Tuesday afternoon, the second straight year they beat Lock Haven in the Play-In. American has advanced to the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament for the second year in a row and sixth time in the past seven seasons.

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.

The Eagles have advanced to the Elite Eight twice in program history. In 2004, American defeated Iowa, 2-1, in the first round and in 2005 earned a 3-2 victory over Penn State to advance to the second round. Both of American's victories in the NCAA Tournament have come in College Park, and were both followed by the Elite Eight losses to Maryland.

American is led on the offensive end of the field by 2009 Patriot League Player of the Year Christine Fingerhuth. The junior has scored a team-high 13 goals this season with three assists for 29 points. Senior Savannah Graybill and sophomore Melissa Casale have helped to give the Eagles a balanced scoring attack, as each has totaled 27 points on 11 goals and five assists. Two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Anne-Meike de Wiljes has anchored a defensive unit which has held opponents to just 1.30 goals per game. Senior goaltender Alyssa Poorman has a 1.27 goals against average, four shutouts and has posted an 11-8 record while playing against seven teams ranked in the national top-25.

American will carry a four-game winning streak into its matchup with Maryland on Saturday. Before the Lock Haven game, the Eagles defeated Lehigh and Lafayette to win the Patriot League Championship last weekend. American has an overall record of 12-8.

Maryland enters the NCAA Tournament as the top seed with a perfect 20-0 overall record. The defending national champions are led by junior Katie O'Donnell's 69 points (22 G, 25 A), senior Nicole Muracco's 56 (27 G, 2 A) and senior Emma Thomas's 51 (20 G, 11 A). Senior Alicia Grater has started all 20 games in the cage for the Terps, posting a 19-0 record with three shutouts and a 0.97 goals against average. Maryland captured the 2009 ACC Championship on Sunday with a 3-2 overtime win over Virginia.

The winner of Saturday's match will play Sunday afternoon against Drexel or Connecticut. The Huskies and the Dragons will face off at 2 p.m. on Saturday in College Park.