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March 15, 2003 | Stats

Rebecca Copeland had her fourth hat trick in six games as the Eagles defeated Bucknell.

WASHINGTON — American University’s women’s lacrosse team remained undefeated in Patriot League play, defeating Bucknell, 13-9. Rebecca Copeland had three goals for the fourth time this season and added an assist. Nicole McCarthy and Katy Zaweski each had two goals and an assist as the Eagles improved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in league action.

Zaweski and Copeland put AU up 2-0 early before the Bison (1-3, 0-1 PL) got on the board on a free position shot by Andrea Paraud. Bucknell pulled even on a Meredith Wright goal, but Laura Repoli put the Eagles back on top just 25 seconds later. The teams continued to battle through the first half until Jamie Crean gave AU the lead for good at 5-4 with a free position goal with 1:45 remaining.

The Eagles continued a run of six straight goals in the second half. Copeland was assisted by Gina Riitano on the first two goals of the half. Tara Michael scored off a Copeland feed just 11 seconds after Copeland’s second goal. After Zaweski scored on a free position shot, McCarthy netted a goal off an assist by Nadia Harmsen 16 seconds later as AU went up, 10-4.

The Bison fought back with four consecutive goals of their own to close the score to 10-8 with 16 minutes remaining. The Eagles answered as Repoli scored her second goal of the game. McCarthy fed Riitano for a goal with under nine minutes remaining and Michael scored an unassisted goal as AU stretched the lead back to 13-8. Amy Hasler scored with just over three minutes left in the game, but the Eagles were able to control the rest of the play and hold on for the 13-9 victory.

American dominated the draw controls with 17 to only seven for Bucknell. The Eagles also had 35 ground balls while the Bison had 22. Kathleen Finnegan made seven saves for AU and Nicole Kallis had 12 saves for Bucknell. Riitano had six draw controls and four ground balls for the Eagles and Harmsen had six caused turnovers and six ground balls for AU. Raina Edelstein also had five ground balls for the Eagles.

AU returns to action on Wednesday at Mount St. Mary’s. The game begins at 3:30 p.m.