American Set to Host NCAA Play-In Game on Tuesday

Nov. 10, 2008

WASHINGTON - After securing its sixth-straight Patriot League Championship over the weekend, the No. 19 ranked American University field hockey will look to earn a berth to the NCAA Tournament as they host Northeast Conference Champion Lock Haven at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Jacobs Field in the Play-In Game. The Eagles of American are coming into the match following a 5-2 win over Bucknell, while the Eagles of Lock Haven qualified by defeating Rider by a 3-0 score.

American (12-7) has been led offensively by the international duo of Irene Schickhardt and Christine Fingerhuth. Shickhardt, a native of Ludwigsburg, Germany, led the PL in scoring with 41 points (15 goals, 11 assists) and was named the PL Offensive Player of the Year as well as Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Fingerhuth, from Santiago, Chile, ranked second on the team in scoring, recording 10 goals and two assists for 22 points and was named the Most Valuable Player in the conference tournament. Savannah Graybill rounded out the top-three point leaders for the Eagles, tallying seven goals and two assists (16 points).

The American defense has been successful on both sides of the field this season, with Anne van Erp and Anne-Meike De Wiljes leading the way. Van Erp has scored four goals and added six assists, while de Wiljes, named PL Defensive Player of the Year, has recorded two goals and nine assists on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively the pair, along with PL Rookie of the Year Tatum Dyer, anchors a back line that has allowed just 1.42 goals per game and has recorded seven shutouts. Alyssa Poorman has been solid in goal for the Eagles, allowing just 1.43 goals against, posting six shutouts and recording 75 saves.

Lock Haven (19-3) won its third-consecutive NEC Championship and is currently receiving votes in the latest National Field Hockey Coaches Association Poll. The Eagles have an offensive pair of their own that has been very successful. The team has been led by Amy Hordendorf, a sophomore forward, who has compiled 21 goals and six assists for 48 points and senior midfielder Blair Wynne, who has 20 goals and eight assists, also for 48 points. Suzann Hobart is a close third on the team with 10 goals and 14 assists for 34 points.

"We are very excited to have taken the next step in the postseason and are focused on delivering our best performance tomorrow against a very talented Lock Haven team," said AU head coach Steve Jennings. "Our players have a big challenge ahead of them but this is what we have been preparing for all year and I expect us to be ready."

Erin Terreson has played the majority of minutes in goal for Lock Haven, she has a 1.47 goals against average and has amassed 78 saves and six shutouts. The two teams have never played each other before in program history. The winner of the match will advance to the NCAA First Round, which will begin on Saturday, Nov. 15.

The game will be broadcast live through Eagle Vision All*Access via the AUEagles.com website.