AU Field Hockey Drops 4-1 Decision to Iowa

Sept. 5, 2008

Box Score

IOWA CITY, Iowa - The No. 15 ranked American University field hockey team dropped its first game of the 2008 season in a 4-1 non-conference loss to No. 5 Iowa in Iowa City. Both the Eagles and the Hawkeyes fall to 2-1 on the season.

The Eagles got on the board first when Savannah Graybill finished a pass from Christine Fingerhuth at the 18:11 mark. The attack was started by an interception by Jesika Pufnock, who played the ball through to Fingerhuth. Fingerhuth centered the ball to Graybill, who was able to push the ball over the diving keeper to give AU the 1-0 lead.

The flow of the match in the first half was generally held in the midfield without too much circle penetration for either side. Late in the half, Iowa won their only corner of the period and were able to convert on a deflection goal into the roof of the cage by Tricia Dean at the 30:14 mark to even the score at 1-1.

In the second period Iowa's Jess Werley scored off of a baseline cross to give the Hawkeyes a 2-1 lead. AU couldn't get a break and gave up a turnover inside their own half in which Iowa centered for another diving deflection that found the back of the net at the 40:50 mark to go up 3-1.

After an AU timeout to regroup, the Eagles placed more pressure on Iowa and were able to control good passages of buildup but the Hawkeyes defense denied any penetration inside the 25 and kept the Eagles threat to a minimum.

Iowa finished another cross ball late in the game to put the score at 4-1 and out of reach.

"We played well enough for large sections of the game to earn a different outcome but against a team like Iowa, you have to be in the match for 70 minutes," said AU head coach Steve Jennings following the game. "Iowa did an excellent job of stepping up in the critical moments and put the game away when they had the chance. Hopefully we will learn a great deal from this experience and use it to our benefit starting tomorrow."

Iowa held a 7-5 advantage in shots and a 4-1 edge in penalty corners. Alyssa Poorman made two saves in goal for the Eagles.

AU will return to action tomorrow against Duke at 2 p.m. CT in another non-conference match-up.