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American Holds Off St. Joe's, 7-5
Riitano scores four goals to lead the Eagles' attack

April 7, 2002

Freshman Gina Riitano scored four goals to lead American to a 7-5 win over St. Joseph's on Sunday afternoon.

WASHINGTON — Gina Riitano scored four goals, and American's defense limited St. Joseph's to five goals, as the Eagles held off the Hawks, 7-5, here on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Reeves Field.

Riitano scored two goals in each half, including the game-winner, to help American improve to 6-5 overall, tying its win total for the 2001 campaign. St. Joe's falls to 2-6 overall.

The teams traded the first four goals of the game before American finally earned some breathing room late in the first half. The Eagles opened the scoring at the 3:46 mark of the first half when Laura Repoli scored an unassisted goal. St. Joe's answered five minutes later when Lauren Foley scored the first of her two goals on the afternoon.

Tara Michael put the Eagles back on top 2-1 when she found the back of the net at the 16:19 mark. The lead was short-lived as the Hawks' Kris Teklinsky found the cage at 16:41.

Riitano scored the first of her four goals at the 22:54 mark on a nice catch and drive to the cage. Nicole McCarthy, who would add seven ground balls this afternoon, put American on top 4-2 with an unassisted goal at the 24:28 mark.

St. Joe's broke the streak with a tally by Maura McNamara at 28:58. American went into the half leading 5-3 on the strength on Riitano's second goal with just 10 seconds to play in the first period.

Defense dominated the action this afternoon, and both goalies were up to the task. For American, Laura Randisi made seven stops while adding six ground balls. The Hawks' Marisa Barriere made 11 saves.

The Hawks came out strong to open the second half, and Foley's second goal of the day just five minutes in sliced the American margin to 5-4. The Eagles responded as Riitano found the cage for the third time at the 14:23 mark.

St. Joe's made it interesting as Teklinsky scored off a feed from Shannon Hungate with just over 10 minutes remaining to get the Hawks within 6-5.

Riitano scored the game's decisive goal, her fourth of the afternoon, with just over four minutes to play off a nice feed from Holly Deland. Riitano played a complete game this afternoon, adding seven ground balls.

American returns to action on Wednesday, April 10, in an important Patriot League matchup when it faces Villanova at 3:30 p.m. at Reeves Field.

Goals: AU - Riitano 4, Repoli 1, Michael 1, McCarthy 1; SJU - Foley 2, Teklinsky 2, McNamara 1.
Assists: AU -Deland 1; SJU - Jungate 1, McNamara 1, Scott 1.
Saves: AU - Randisi 7; SJU - Barriere 11.
Shots: AU - 28; SJU - 14