Sep 6, 2008
No. 15 AU Field Hockey Falls to No. 12 Duke, 3-1
Sept. 6, 2008
IOWA CITY, Iowa - The No. 15 ranked American University field hockey team dropped a 3-1 decision to No. 12 Duke on Saturday in Iowa City in non-conference action. The Eagles are now 2-2 on the season after playing their third nationally ranked opponent in a row, while Duke improves to 2-1.
"We knew coming into the weekend that we would face two teams that play very different styles," said AU head coach Steve Jennings. "I am proud of our girls for making tactical adjustments that allowed us to pressure both styles of play."
The Blue Devils got on the board first, scoring a goal at the 4:15 mark when Laura Suchoski found Susan Ferger five yards out from the goal for the score. The Eagles responded quickly, as Christine Fingerhuth scored an unassisted equalizer just under two minutes later to even the score a 1-1.
Duke would score once more before the half on an unassisted goal by Brooke Patterson to take a 2-1 lead into the intermission.
The second half began and AU was playing with urgency, but were unable to convert when attacking inside its own 25. and the Blue Devils would add another in the third at the 66:47 mark from Megan Deakins to take the 3-1 victory.
"Overall there were a number of players who left everything on the field today," Jennings said. "Annie de Wiljes, Tatum Dyer and Anne van Erp forced Duke to work extremely hard to have productive offensive momentum today. We are eager to work on some adjustments this week at practice and take a step forward next weekend."
American was outshot 13-1 in the outing and Duke held a 7-0 advantage in penalty corners. Alyssa Poorman and Hannah Weitzman split time in goal for the Eagles. Poorman made two saves, while Weitzman made three stops in the game.
AU will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 13 when they take on Northwestern at 1 p.m. in College Park, Md.
