Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. (9/29/07) - The Colgate University field hockey team was unable to hold on to a 1-0 halftime lead as the Raiders (5-6) lost to No. 12 American (9-2), 2-1, on Saturday, Sept. 29, at Reeves Field.

Just under 16 minutes into the game, Colgate took the 1-0 lead with a penalty corner goal by its top unit: senior Natali Plesniarski (Hamilton, N.Y.) and junior Maddie Watrobski (Penfield, N.Y.) fed junior Lauren Carey (Medfield, Mass.) for the goal.

The Raiders played an even game against the Eagles in the first half, edging the hosts in shots, 5-4, as each team received three penalty corner opportunities.

Not ready to accept its second straight loss to an unranked team, American stormed back in the second half, outshooting Colgate 9-3. The Eagles' tenacity paid off 10:52 into the period when Anne-Meike deWiljes scored her first career goal off a rebound to tie the score at 1-1.

American got the equalizer with less than 12 minutes remaining in the game. A scramble in the box resulted in Savannah Graybill deflecting the ball into the cage to give the Eagles the win.

Colgate sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Pedersen (State College, Pa.) finished the game with five saves, while American netminder Alyssa Poorman made three saves in the victory. The Raiders made a valiant defensive effort that included keeping the Patriot League's leading scorer, Denise Infante, without a shot in the game.

The game marks the second straight year that the Raiders have played the nationally-ranked Eagles in a one-goal game. Last year, then-freshman Katelyn Nerbonne (Bow, N.H.) netted a hat trick in a 4-3 loss to American at Tyler's Field.

Colgate continues its five-game road swing at Holy Cross on Saturday, Oct. 6, starting at 12:00 p.m.