AU junior Hannah Weitzman picked up her first career victory and sophomore Melissa Casale had two goals in the field hockey team’s 5-1 win over Colgate University Saturday.
With the win, AU moves to 6-5 on the year and 2-0 in the Patriot League conference. The win is the second game in a row where the Eagles scored at least five goals. AU’s defense also stepped up allowing only two shots throughout the whole game.
It did not take long for the Eagles to get on the board. Just under two minutes in, Casale took a long pass up the right sideline from Anne van Erp and slipped it past the Colgate goalie for a 1-0 lead. AU would add two more goals in the half, from senior Rachel Carney and another from junior Christine Fingerhuth. The team’s two other goals came late in the second half from Sarah Millman and Casale for her second on the day.
Even though the team had a strong day on defense as well as offense, they did seem to lose their composure several times. The Eagles started both halves with a number of fouls and allowed seven penalty corners. While none of them got by Weitzman or the AU defense, it still demonstrated some sloppy play.
AU has a big game next Saturday against Bucknell University, who also won on Saturday. The winner will claim the top spot in Patriot League with a perfect conference record. While the Bison have a better overall record at 7-4, they are tied with AU for two conferences wins each.
There are only three Patriot League games left and the Eagles will look to go undefeated in conference play for the seventh straight year. AU was the early favorite to take the conference coming into the season. If AU wins the regular season they will host the Patriot League tournament starting Nov. 6.
AU starters have 18 goals on the season, and the team has 29 total. Opponents have only scored 17 total goals on 84 shots — about half of the number of AU shots. Senior Savannah Graybill is leading the team in game winning goals.
There are only five regular season games remaining. Of those five, three of them are at home where the Eagles are 2-2. AU’s last game of the regular season is Nov. 1 at home against Lehigh University.
You can reach this staff writer at atomlinson@theeagleonlein.com.
