AU Field Hockey Climbs to No. 18 in Latest NFHCA Poll

Oct. 21, 2008

WASHINGTON - The American University field hockey team moved up two spots to No. 18 in the latest National Field Hockey Coaches Association Poll, released Tuesday, October 21, 2008. The Eagles had previously held the 20th spot for two-straight weeks before a pair of wins over Bucknell (4-0) and Towson (4-1) last weekend attributed to the climb.

American (8-6, 3-0 PL) heads into Alumni Weekend with a huge match-up with Lafayette (10-5, 3-0 PL), who is also unbeaten in conference play, at 12 noon on Saturday. Both teams have already clinched a spot in the Patriot League Post-Season Tournament with this weekend's winner earning the upper hand in the right to host the event. The Eagles and Leopards are no strangers on the big stage, as the two sides faced off last season in the Patriot League Championship. AU took an 8-0 win over Lafayette in the regular season meeting, before defeating the Leopards, 3-1, en route to its fifth-straight conference title. Jesika Pufnock, Christine Fingerhuth and Kirsten Gebhart all scored goals for the Eagles in the win.

"We had some great performances over the past two games and now we look to ride that momentum into our senior day weekend against Lafayette," said AU head coach Steve Jennings. " We know that the winner of this contest will be the host for the league tournament and we certainly want to make sure we have the opportunity to play at home for at least another weekend. To achieve the result we want, it will be important for us to remain committed to the little details which have proved to be so big for us when we have been at our best this season. "

This season, American has been led by the international duo of Irene Schickhardt (Ludwigsburg, Germany) and Fingerhuth (Santiago, Chile). Schickhardt has tallied 12 goals and six assists for 30 points, while Fingerhuth has eight goals and two assists (18 points), despite missing three games to play for her Junior National Team in the Pan American Games. Alyssa Poorman has been solid in goal for the Eagles and has a league-leading six shutouts on the season and has gotten tremendous defensive support in front of her, led by Anne Van Erp (five assists, one defensive save) and Anne-Meike De Wiljes (two goals, seven assists, one defensive save).

Lafayette is led by Maggie Condon, who has tallied 13 goals and four assists (30 points) and Kelly Hilovsky, with six goals and five assists (17 points). Jacyln DiSanti leads the Leopards defense and has a team-high 11 assists on the season. Kelsey Andersen has played every minute in goal for Lafayette and has four shutouts.

The Eagles will honor their four graduating seniors prior to the game, Schickhardt, Pufnock, Megan Henry and Katie Turner.