The American University field hockey team (7-5) defeated the Lafayette Leopards (8-5) on Oct. 3 by a score of 3-1.
This matchup featured the top two teams in the Patriot League, with the winner set to take the top of the standings and maintain their undefeated league record.
The Eagles dominated defensively in the first period, controlling possession of the ball on their side of the field while they set up their attack. The Leopards were unable to advance the ball onto the other side of the field for the first eight minutes of the game. American deflected many passes, thwarting any attack that Lafayette tried to make.
“We worked a lot in passing and trapping this week, and knowing we want to control the game and possess the ball as much as possible…instead of just running with the ball,” senior midfielder Agustina Roffo said.
With just over two minutes left in the first quarter, a steal by freshman defender Maddy Snyder created an opportunity for junior Jordan Reicher, who ultimately missed the shot by sending it high and left.
The second period was an extension of the first. The Eagles controlled the possession of the ball, and prevented Lafayette from getting close to the goal, which forced the Leopards to take long shots at the goal.
In the first minute of the second half, a quick deflection on the left side by junior midfielder Emilia Winkler gave American a chance to score a quick goal to start the half.
Despite stifling defense and controlling the ball for the majority of the first half, the Eagles were not able to get a penalty corner until the 25th minute.
The first corner was taken by freshman forward Ninthe Botman. She sent it to senior defender Sophie Willemse, whose shot was deflected, but gave American a chance at another corner.
The second corner, taken again by Botman, was passed to freshman defender Lotti Süme, whose shot was deflected right into Roffo. Roffo put it in the back of the net to break the tie and give American a 1-0 lead.
The second half started a little slower for the Eagles, but they settled in and kept up the pressure. With nine minutes remaining in the third quarter, a steal by Süme and a subsequent attack led to another corner for American.
A pass by junior defender Mia Edwards to sophomore midfielder Kendall Varty led to the ball bouncing around Lafayette defenders, and eventually going over the goal line for a 2-0 Eagles lead.
After American’s second goal, the Leopards started to get their offense going. A pass to the Leopard’s sophomore midfielder/forward Laila Pasic and a subsequent foul gave Lafayette their first penalty corner with five minutes left in the period. Lafayette got two penalty corners in this sequence, but both were deflected by American.
Despite giving up a few more scoring opportunities, the Eagles started the fourth and final quarter by adding to their lead. A cross-field shot from Reicher gave the Eagles a 3-goal lead, within 90 seconds of the period’s start.
But, the Leopards did not relent. A 49th-minute penalty by American gave Lafayette a corner. Inserted by junior Katie Gibb, the ball was passed to Lea Good, who hit it over to junior Lena Thedrian, breaking the shutout to make the score 3-1.
The Leopards created more chances in the fourth quarter than during the first 70 percent of the game. Including those two corners, the Eagles gave up eight total corners in the final 20 minutes of play. Yet, American’s continued attack and solid corner defense allowed American to come away with a solid 3-1 win.
“I thought we were brilliant with our flying, and being able to block a lot of initial shots, and if there were rebounds I thought we were quick to get on them,” head coach Steve Jennings said. “Very, very happy overall with how we did.”
Despite American taking four fewer shots than Lafayette and getting four fewer corners, the Eagles’ chances were of much higher quality and they were able to capitalize on them much better.
“We played them a lot, so we know the matchups,” Jennings added. “We tried to just limit their opportunities … and we were able to do that pretty successfully today.”
The Eagles return to Jacobs Field on Oct. 17 to face Bucknell in another Patriot League matchup.
This article was edited by Connor Sturniolo, Penelope Jennings and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Sabine Kanter-Huchting, Ryan Sieve, Audrey Smith andAva Stuzin.
