Sept. 9, 2006
College Park, Md. -- American put two quick goals on the board and the aggressive start proved to be the difference in the match as the No. 12 Eagles edged Northwestern (3-3), 3-2 Saturday afternoon at the Terrapin Invitational.
"We didn't perform to the level we should have in the first half and we spent the rest digging ourselves out of a hole," Head Coach Kelly McCollum said. "I am proud of how we battled back but our inconsistency in executing our game plan is what hurt us today."
American scored twice in the first 16 minutes, putting the 'Cats on the defensive for most of the first half. At the 24:22 mark, junior Cassie Miller (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) found the back of the cage on an assist from fellow classmate Amanda Care (Newtown, Pa./Pennsbury).
The Eagles answered with their third goal of the game a minute and a half later.
Northwestern's defense shut down American in the second half, holding the Eagles scoreless, thanks to five saves by sophomore netminder Emily Kyle (San Francisco, Calif./San Francisco University H.S.)
"Emily Kyle is helping to keep us in games," McCollum said. "She is continuing to improve and keeps stepping up more and more for our team. The defense shut it down in the second half."
Northwestern continued to battle offensively as freshman Elizabeth Dobbs (Wellesley, Mass./St. Ignatius (Calif.)) scored her second goal of the season on an assist from Annie Bosslet (Granite City, Ill./Villa Duchesne).
"Dobbs is doing a good job," McCollum said. "She has continued to improve every day and the speed she brings to the field helps us immensely."
Northwestern returns to action tomorrow when it faces No. 1 Maryland in the second game of the Terrapin Invitational. Match time is slated for noon CT.