Sports

This week in Eagle sports

Did you know...

1. The AU men's basketball team started in 1926 under head coach G. Baillie Springston. Springston led the Eagles for a total of three years until 1929-1930 season when Walter H. Young replaced him. 2. Before Bender Arena, there was Fort Myer Ceremonial Hall, commonly known to Eagle fans back in the day as "The Fort.

Men's basketball misses chance to clinch PL title, loses to Navy 83-68

With first place in the Patriot League on the line last night in Annapolis, Md., the Navy Midshipmen shot down the men's basketball team with more precision than a falling satellite as their 83-68 loss halted a six-game winning streak. The Eagles faced an uphill struggle from the start.

Sideline scholar: Let's twist and shout our way to 'Big Dance'

Recently, the campus has come alive with the possibility that the first-place men's basketball team could be heading to the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament or the National Invitational Tournament. With a victory next Wednesday, coupled with a loss by Navy, the Eagles would clinch the Patriot League regular season title and an automatic birth to the NIT.

Women's basketball sinks Navy

Bender was buzzing last night as the women's basketball team clinched a share of the Patriot League title in a 69-37 win against the Navy Midshipmen. AU came out strong from the start, establishing a 9-0 lead off of a Talicia Jackson three-pointer. It would not be long before Navy answered back, bringing the score up to 9-4 with back-to-back baskets.

Women's basketball alone in first place

The women's basketball team is in sole possession of first place in the Patriot League after they defeated Holy Cross 76-71 in overtime Saturday. With 16 ties and 13 lead changes, the Eagles and Crusaders provided unprecedented excitement. The Eagles and the Crusaders ran onto the court in the first half with fire in their bellies.

Women's lacrosse captures first win

It took all of regulation and two overtimes, but the women's lacrosse team secured its first victory of the 2008 season, defeating the Davidson Wildcats on the road Saturday 11-10. The Eagles jumped out to an early 3-1 lead on goals by junior Kira Sonberg and seniors Brittany Finnegan and Lauren Askionoff.

Jamieson runs away with two titles at PL

Junior Carlos Jamieson captured his first two career titles, while senior Cathleen Ford picked up an individual victory at the Patriot League Track and Field Championships this weekend at Bucknell University. Along with Jamieson and Ford, the Eagles also won a league title in the men's distance relay, totaling four championships over the course of the meet.

Youth steals show at swimming PL Champs

It was the underclassmen who were the highlight of the Patriot League Swimming and Diving Championships by picking up multiple top five finishes as the men's and women's swimming teams headed to the U.S. Naval Academy to end its season. It was the woman's team who Thursday took home the first points for the squad.

Home sweet home for Nationals

The summer of 2008 is shaping up to be the season when the Washington Nationals shake their identity crisis forever. Come April, the club will christen a first-class new stadium, replacing the depressing architectural relic that is RFK. But also, and maybe even more importantly, the Nats will not have to contend with the off-field distractions that have come to define the team during their infancy in the District.

Only 11 Eagle baskets made for win

It's not often that you win a basketball game when you make less than 30 percent of your shots, but the men's basketball team did just that, defeating conference rival Army and sweeping the season series 49-40 last night at Bender Arena. Sloppiness dictated play from the start as both teams combined to turn the ball over on the first three possessions of the game before junior Bryce Simon knocked down a three-point shot to give the Eagles the early lead.

Second straight loss for lacrosse: Fall to Drexel Dragons, 8-6

Playing with the same ferocity as the snow that was falling throughout the game, the women's lacrosse team stayed strong in their home opener but their effort was not enough to prevent the Eagles from losing 8-6 to the Drexel Dragons. The game started slow for AU, as Drexel jumped out to an early two-point lead by scoring goals only 45 seconds apart at the 22:29 mark.

Women's b-ball gains 7th straight win: No. 1 in PL

The women's basketball team came out strong from the start in their game at Army, winning 63-51 on Wednesday night and putting the team in first place in the Patriot League. With no more than 13 seconds into the game, AU put its name on the scoreboard, gaining a two-point lay-up from senior Maggie Smith-Davidson.

This week in Eagle sports

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 20 Women's basketball vs. Army (7 p.m.) at Army Men's basketball vs. Army (7:30 p.m.) at HOME Lacrosse vs. Drexel (3:30 p.m.) at HOME THURSDAY, FEB. 21 Wrestling vs. Binghamton (7 p.m.) at Binghamton, N.Y. Swimming PL Championships (all day) at Annapolis, Md.

Men's basketball rallies past Colgate, wins 68-60

The men's basketball team was forced to come from behind on Sunday afternoon, rallying from nine points down at the half to defeat Colgate 68-60 in Hamilton, N.Y. The game started out on a positive note for the Eagles, who took a 21-15 lead on a three-pointer by junior Brian Gilmore at the 9:39 mark of the first half after trading baskets back and forth with the Raiders during the opening minutes.

Women's lacrosse falls to Ohio State in season opener

The women's lacrosse team lost 14-3 in Saturday's season opener in Columbus, Ohio, against perennial powerhouse Ohio State University. The game started off close, with a 1-1 tie going into the 10th minute. However, after an 8-0 Buckeye run finishing off the first half, the Eagles struggled to find their footing.

Wrestling team takes individual victories, team defeat

Individually, the men's wrestling team continued to receive impressive performances. However, the team struggled to produce positive results as a team Sunday when they dropped their last Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association contest of the season, 30-14 at Bucknell.