EMAIL THIS PAGE

Eagles Lose Nailbiter to Towson, 17-16
Copeland, Riitano and Zaweski each net three goals for AU

March 5, 2003 | Stats

Gina Riitano netted three goals and had two assists for AU against Towson.

TOWSON, Md. — American University's women's lacrosse team fought back from deficits of five and six goals, but could not overcome Towson, falling 17-16. The Eagles drop to 0-2 on the season while Towson moves to 1-0. Rebecca Copeland, Gina Riitano and Katy Zaweski each netted three goals for the Eagles. Riitano and Zaweski added two assists each for AU while Riitano had four ground balls and four caused turnovers.

Towson scored three goals in the first three minutes of the game to jump out in the lead. Tara Michael scored off a feed from Zaweski to put the Eagles on the board, but the Tigers then went on a 4-1 run to post a 7-2 lead.

AU stormed back as Zaweski took the ball to the net to score and Nadia Harmsen netted a goal just 13 seconds later. Riitano found Nicole McCarthy a minute later to bring the Eagles within two. Moriah Linnell fed a cutting Zaweski as AU closed to 7-6.

The Eagles knotted the game at eight on a goal by Harmsen off a feed from Michael with 9:45 remaining in the first half. A Laura Repoli free position shot kept the game tied at nine before Towson went on a four-goal run to end the half.

Michael netted her second goal of the game to open the second half, but Towson then scored three straight goals. AU struck back with three of its own with two by Copeland and one from Riitano to make the score 16-13.

With the Eagles trailing 17-13, Zaweski found a cutting Riitano who shot the ball in one motion to score. Just 15 seconds later, Copeland scored her third goal of the match to bring AU within two. Neither team could score for the next 10 minutes until Repoli scored for AU with 1:07 remaining. The Eagles had the ball as the clock wound down, but Towson goalkeeper Jessica O'Connell saved McCarthy's shot.

Kathleen Finnegan made 10 saves in goal for AU, facing 33 shots. McCarthy had seven ground balls and five draw controls for the Eagles.

The Eagles have two home games this weekend, the Patriot League season opener against Colgate on Saturday and non-league action against Fairfield on Sunday. Both games begin at 1 p.m.