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American Wins Patriot League Battle With Villanova, 10-8
Harmsen scores three goals to help Eagles to victory

April 10, 2002

Junior Nadia Harmsen scored three goals and added an assist to lead the Eagles to an important Patriot League victory over Villanova.

WASHINGTON — Nadia Harmsen scored three goals and added an assist to help American’s women’s lacrosse team defeat Villanova 10-8 in a Patriot League showdown today at Reeves Field. With the victory, the Eagles clinch a spot in the Patriot League Championships to be held at the end of the month.

American moves to 7-5 on the season and 4-1 in Patriot League play. Villanova drops to 6-5 overall and 3-2 in league action. The seven wins are the most in a season for the Eagles since 1999.

Adele Fenwick got American on the board early, scoring an unassisted goal just 36 seconds into the game. Villanova answered at the 7:26 mark with a goal by Cecily Price. The Wildcats took their only lead of the game at the 10:29 mark as Elizabeth Firth found the net.

Harmsen knotted the game with her first goal off a feed from Gina Riitano. The Eagles took the lead for good at the 13:44 mark as Lynn Brandon made a nice pass to Jamie Crean who found the goal. Harmsen, who would add six ground balls and three draw controls on the day, scored her second goal of the game to give American a 4-2 lead.

Villanova came back, tying the game with two goals in under a minute by Meghan Carolan. Both goals were assisted by Sarah DePeters. Tara Michael scored the first of her two goals on the day at the 24:11 mark to give American a 5-4 lead heading into the half.

Michael scored her second straight goal just 3:41 into the second half to stretch the Eagle lead to two. Just over a minute later, she made a pretty feed to Riitano to give American a three-goal advantage. DePeters answered with a goal at the 6:44 mark, but Harmsen scored her third goal of the day to keep the Eagles ahead. The Wildcats clawed back with three goals by Katie Mannix, Katie Komlo and DePeters’ second goal of the day to tie the game at eight 17:51 into the second half.

American responded to the Villanova rally as Laura Repoli scored off of a pass from Harmsen to give the lead back to the Eagles. Fenwick notched her second goal of the game at the 25:18 mark to seal the victory for American.

Laura Randisi saved seven shots for the Eagles and snagged five ground balls. Brandy Grenier saved eight shots for Villanova. Nicole McCarthy, who is second in the nation in ground balls and third in caused turnovers, had nine ground balls and four caused turnovers in the game. Holly Deland had a solid game as well with six ground balls and four caused turnovers. Robyn Mincher also caused four turnovers in the game.

American returns to action next Tuesday, April 16, as they face Mount St. Mary’s at Reeves Field. The game starts at 4:00 p.m.

Goals: AU - Harmsen 3, Fenwick 2, Michael 2, Crean, Repoli, Riitano; VU - Carolan 2, DePeters 2, Firth, Komlo, Mannix, Pierce.
Assists: AU - Michael 2, Brandon, Harmsen, Michael, Riitano; VU - DePeters 2, Carolan, Komlo, Pierce
Saves: AU - Randisi 7; VU - Grenier 8.
Shots: AU - 21; VU - 16