The No. 9 AU field hockey team continued on its winning streak this weekend, beginning with a 3-0 win against the Kent State Flashes on Saturday and ending with a 7-0 win against Northwestern Sunday. These wins bring the Eagles' record to 8-0.
The Eagles started the game off strong when freshman Christine Fingerhuth scored the first goal nine minutes into play. AU and Kent State continued to play neck-and-neck for the rest of the half, with both teams struggling to tag more goals onto the scoreboard.
The Eagles came out of the locker room with more determination in the second half. Sophomore Savannah Graybill continued on her season scoring streak when just over four minutes into the second she registered a shot on goal, bringing the score to a 2-0 Eagle advantage.
With 11 minutes to go until the final whistle, Fingerhuth scored the third and final goal of the game. Kent State was unable to overcome the Eagles' three-goal lead.
The Flashes failed to make contact with the net but came close when, with just over 13 minutes left in the game, the team had an opportunity to score on a penalty corner. Power-player Denise Infante, however, worked with goalkeeper Alyssa Poorman to keep the ball away. AU's defensive efforts matched with Poorman's saves resulted in the goalkeeper's fourth shutout of the season.
In Sunday's game, the Eagles set the pace early once again, quickly scoring goals at the start of the first half.
Fingerhuth was credited with the assist for Maggie Hall's first goal, scored at 7:21. Hall continued to play persistently. Two minutes after her first goal, she struck again off of a penalty corner.
AU continued to play with determination, and teammates Infante, Irene Schickhardt and Megan Henry all contributed goals to the scoreboard before the end of the first half. AU outnumbered its opponent in shots on goal and penalty corners.
The second half would be just as pleasant for the Eagles. At the top of the half, Schickhardt quickly registered her second goal of the day against the Northwestern goalkeeper. AU would go on to score one more goal in the final five minutes of the game, achieved by freshman Shay Smith.
The Eagles now hold an 8-0 winning streak, the largest since the 2005 season, and hope to continue it in its next game at home against No. 2 Maryland.
