Womens' Soccer falls to Towson 1-0
Towson slipped by AU Women's Soccer 2-1 at Reeves Field Monday in a non-conference match that saw the Eagles start seven freshmen, including five for the first time.
Towson's Martha Bielefeld netted her second goal of the match at 67:44 to put the Tigers (5-8-0) past the Eagles (7-6-1, 4-1-0 Patriot League).
Christina Gonzalez tied the game for AU 1-1 at 33:07 as the freshman converted a pass from Amy Muller. It was her second goal of the year.
Kristie Fontana contributed to the Eagles' offensive effort with four shots, including one attempt that missed just above the crossbar in the second half.
AU 'keeper Alison Doyle stopped two of four shots on goal in her first start since Sept. 10.
The non-conference match allowed AU coach Michael Brady to test different lineups on the field without affecting the Eagles' PL standing. Most notably absent due to this move was Simone Konig, who had started all 34 matches of her college career. She came off the bench for the final 15 minutes of the match.
- KEVIN HILGERS
Field Hockey shames Towson on the road 5-0
AU Field Hockey, ranked 19th in the nation, drubbed the home-standing Towson Tigers 5-0 on Wednesday to move to 12-2 on the year and 4-0 in the Patriot League.
Senior forward Melissa Snyder and junior midfielder Javiera Villagra each bagged two goals in the win, while sophomore midfielder Maureen Daniels notched two assists.
Snyder and Villagra's first goals came less than two minutes apart. Snyder scored her first in the 24th minute, and then Villagra put one away two minutes later on one of Daniels' assists to give the Eagles a sudden 2-0 lead before halftime.
Villagra's second made victory all but official for AU, pushing the lead to 3-0 less than five minutes into the second half. In the 54th minute, freshman forward Heidi Hershberger got into the act, scoring her only goal of the match, also off an assist from Daniels. Snyder capped off the route by scoring again in the 60th minute.
AU dominated most of the match, out-shooting the Tigers 16-5 and holding an 8-4 advantage in penalty corners.
Snyder and Villagra now lead the Eagles in scoring on the year with 11 goals apiece, while Daniels leads the assist category with seven. Senior goalkeeper Laura Miller posted her eighth shutout of the season while recording three saves.
AU continues its impressive season with a trip to Colgate for a Saturday PL clash, before dropping in on neighbors and landlords University of Maryland, No. 3 in the country, for a backyard battle next Tuesday.
- IAN QUILLEN
