The American University field hockey team (6-0) defeated the Holy Cross Crusaders (2-4) on Nov. 1 in the final game of the regular season by a score of 3-1.
The game began with an exciting first quarter. The Eagles came in strong defensively, frazzling Holy Cross, resulting in a foul and a penalty stroke in the first three minutes of the game.
Graduate student midfielder Kaleigh Missimer took the stroke. She lifted the ball into the lower left corner of the goal and scored, giving the Eagles a 1-0 advantage.
However, the lead did not last long. In the 10th minute, Holy Cross freshman forward Martina di Gregorio Giralt came in strong, flipping a reverse shot past the netminder, hitting the ball into the lower right corner and tying the game 1-1.
American was quick to bounce back. With just two minutes remaining in the first quarter, junior forward Jordan Reicher scored on an open shot. She ran with the ball through traffic and lifted the ball into the cage. American led 2-1 going into the second quarter.
The first quarter ended with American completing two shots and Holy Cross making one. Both teams scored on all their attempts, making the first quarter the highest-scoring quarter for both teams.
At the start of the second quarter, senior goalie Pauline Gineste blocked two open shots from Holy Cross’ Maguire Sturgis and Kendall Blomquist, improving her record saves to 11-5 for the season.
With eight minutes remaining in the second quarter, Reicher gained possession of the ball, lifted her stick and struck the ball into the cage, achieving her second wide-open shot of the game and giving American a 3-1 lead.
Towards the end of the second quarter, sophomore midfielder Kendall Varty was given a green card after not going 5 yards before the ball entered the circle. However, she was subbed back in at the beginning of the third quarter.
Reicher was also given a green card at the start of the third quarter and was subbed back in just after the penalty was up.
Despite her penalty, Reicher was praised for her high performance.
“Jordan was key for us this game,” head coach Steve Jennings said. “Scoring 2 goals and getting some crossbars… she played great.”
Reicher's 2-goal effort gives her a Patriot League-leading 13 goals, as well as a league-high four game-winning goals. Following this game, Reicher was named the 2025 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year.
The third and fourth quarters were scoreless for both the Eagles and the Crusaders and heavily defensive.
American freshman defender Lotti Süme “was very strong defensively,” Jennings said. “She did excellent in the center back position and made a lot of stops.”
This win put American undefeated in conference play, and made them the winners of the Patriot League regular season.
“I am really happy I finished out my season strong,” Reicher said. “I am ready to go into postseason with a lot of momentum. I love how competitive the postseason is. I know they [Boston University] will come fighting, but we will be ready.”
Along with this victory, this game celebrated senior night. Gineste, the only senior on the team, spent the entire game in the cage and made four saves.
“It feels amazing,” Gineste said. “I could not do it without my defense, without my [midfielders], without my forwards… I love them dearly and [the win] means a lot to me.”
Gineste earned Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week honors.
This game marks the 15th regular-season title under head coach Steve Jennings. Jennings said he and the team are thrilled to be hosting the league tournament and are ready to go in strong against Boston University.
Going into the semifinals, American is the #1 seed and will host the #4 Boston University Terriers on Nov. 6 at 11 a.m. on Reeves Field. American fell to BU 1-0. At 2 p.m. the same day at Reeves, #2 Lafayette University will take on #3 Bucknell University. The winners will play in the Patriot League Championship at Reeves on Nov. 8.
This article was edited by Connor Sturniolo, Penelope Jennings and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Sabine Kanter-Huchting, Ryan Sieve, Audrey Smith and Ava Stuzin.
