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March 29, 2003 | Stats

Rebecca Copeland

EASTON, Pa. — Jumping out to an early 3-1 lead, the American University women's lacrosse team dropped its first Patriot League match Saturday with a 12-11 decision to Lafayette.

The Eagles are now 7-3 overall and 3-1 in league play while the Leopards improve to 2-9 overall and 2-1 in Patriot League action.

Sophomore Rebecca Copeland was a force early in the first half, tallying two of her four goals before Lafayette tied it at four with 11 minutes remaining in the first half.

AU got back on track, pummeling the Leopards with four straight goals including two by Katy Zaweski. Zaweski's second score came on a free position shot with 6:37 left in the first. Finding its offense, Lafayette's Katie Layng scored with 57 seconds to the close of the half for an American 8-5 advantage.

Senior Nadia Harmsen, who recently joined the 100-point club, registered one of her three goals just two minutes into the second half on a free position shot. However, Lafayette answered with four consecutive goals including two by Jennifer Stone.

Nine seconds after an Eagles timeout, Harmsen earned the draw control and scored to reclaim the lead at 10-9. LC's Erin Gallagher wasted no time returning the favor when she tied it up one minute later. The Leopards claimed their first lead of the game with 11 minutes left on a goal by Stone.

Copeland would tie the game at 8:32 but American couldn't take advantage of any scoring opportunities. With 1:36 left, LC's Fallon Cunningham put one past AU goalie Kathleen Finnegan for the gamewinner.

Finnegan would finish with 11 saves for AU. Zaweski chipped in with three goals and one assist for the Eagles.

NOTES: Sophomore Gina Riitano reset the single season draw control record with 34. It had previously been set by Brooke Morgan in 1998 with 32. Riitano finished with three draw controls a goal and an assist.