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Riitano nets game-winner with 19 seconds left
April 12, 2003 | Stats
 |
| Gina Riitano scored the game-winning goal as AU clinched the Patriot League Regular Season Title. |
WORCESTER, Mass. — Playing from behind all afternoon, the American University women's lacrosse team overcame Holy Cross to capture the Patriot League Regular Season title. Midfielder Gina Riitano scored the game-winning goal with 19 seconds remaining as AU (9-4, 5-1 PL) defeated the Crusaders (6-6, 1-3 PL), 9-8. Riitano had three goals on the afternoon for the Eagles while Nadia Harmsen netted her 100th career goal.
After Holy Cross posted a 3-0 lead the Eagles struck back with two straight goals by Katy Zaweski and Jamie Crean to close within one. However, the Crusaders scored to hold a 4-2 halftime advantage.
Early in the second half, Holy Cross scored again to restore the lead to three. Riitano won the ensuing draw control, and went the length of the field to score her first goal of the match. She scored again with just over 20 minutes remaining as AU closed back within one. The Crusaders scored yet again before AU went on a four-goal run over 10 minutes to lead 8-6 with 6:00 remaining. Rebecca Copeland netted two goals in this stretch while Harmsen scored her 100th career goal with 16:18 remaining off a feed from Tara Michael. Zaweski also had her second goal of the match.
The Crusaders would
not go away as two goals tied the match with 2:53 left in the game. Holy
Cross won the draw control, but turned the ball over as AU had posession
for the final minute. Riitano cut inside and shot in the top part of the
net for the winning goal.
Kathleen Finnegan saved
10 shots for the Eagles while Kellaigh Malangone saved six shots for Holy
Cross. Harmsen had eight ground balls on the afternoon for AU.
The win for the Eagles clinches at least a tie for the Patriot League Regular Season crown. However, AU owns the tiebreaker with Colgate and has earned hosting rights for the Patriot League Tournament held April 26-27 on Reeves Field.
The Eagles' next match is on Tuesday in a non-league contest at St. Joseph's beginning at 5 p.m.
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