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2003 Patriot League Women's Lacrosse Championship
American University Hosts Tournament as No. 1 Seed

The Schedule

Tournament Bracket

Saturday, April 26, 2003 - Reeves Field
Semifinal 1: No. 1 American 16, vs. No. 4 Lehigh 3 Recap
Semifinal 2: No. 2 Colgate 9, vs. No. 3 Bucknell 13 Recap

Sunday, April 27, 2003 - Reeves Field
Championship: No. 1 American 15 vs. No. 3 Bucknell 6 Recap

The Field

No. 1 American University (9-6, 5-1 PL)

Head Coach Maureen Dupcak; Assistant Coaches Katie Riitano, Ashley Flanigan

Sophomore All-Patriot League First Team Gina Riitano

Roster

Statistics

ABOUT THE EAGLES: For the second consecutive season, the AU women's lacrosse team tied for the regular season Patriot League crown. However, a 10-5 win over Colgate in the first league match of the season gave the Eagles home field advantage and the top seed in the tournament. Patriot League Coach of the Year Marueen Dupcak leads the team in search of the programs' first-ever NCAA berth.

Sophomore and All-Patriot League First Team member Gina Riitano leads the team in scoring with 49 points on 33 goals and 16 assists. Rebecca Copeland, a member of the second team is second in scoring with 46 points and a team-high 39 goals. Nadia Harmsen made her second consecutive appearance on the All-Patriot League Second Team and has 35 points this year. Robyn Mincher was named to the first team for the second year in a row and anchors the defense in front of goalkeeper Kathleen Finnegan, a member of the All-Patriot League Second Team.

The Eagles have set school records for goals (184) and assists (86) in a season and are fifth in the NCAA in scoring offense. AU is also fifth nationally in draw controls and 17th in scoring margin and caused turnovers.

First Round Matchup:

AGAINST LEHIGH: The Eagles won a thrilling match at Lehigh with Katy Zaweski scoring with four seconds remaining in overtime to send the Eagles to a 10-9 victory. Recap

No. 2 Colgate(10-5, 5-1 PL)

Head Coach Katrina Silva; Assistant Coach Carrie Aitken

Patriot League Rookie of the Year Katie McVeigh

Roster

Statistics

ABOUT THE RAIDERS: Colgate enters the Patriot League Tournament riding a six-match winning streak. The No. 4 seed in the tournament a year ago, the Raiders are the only Patriot League school to appear in all three tournaments held by the league.

Colgate placed a league-best six players on the All-Patriot League squads including four on the first team. Katie McVeigh pulled in Rookie of the Year honors and named to the second team after posting a league-leading 51 points and 46 goals. Seniors Caiti Houck and Shawn Mattson were named to the first team, as well as Kim Corcoran and Becky Ortolano. Along with McVeigh freshman Kelly Winning was named to the second team as an attacker.

First Round Matchup:

AGAINST BUCKNELL: The Raiders defeated Bucknell, 9-6, behind four goals by McVeigh. Recap

No. 3 Bucknell (7-7, 3-3 PL)

Head Coach Randall Flynn; Assistant Coach Pam Lowie

Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Suzanne Raffaele

Roster

Statistics

ABOUT THE BISON: Bucknell makes its first appearance in the Patriot League Tournament under first-year head coach Randall Flynn. The team won three of its last four Patriot League matches to qualify for the tournament.

The Bison boast the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year in Suzanne Raffaele and the Defensive Player of the Year in goalkeeper Nicole Kallis. Raffaele has 35 goals this season and is just two shy of BU's career record. Kallis is sixth in the country in save percentage (.569) and 17th in goals-against average (8.29). The duo are joined by Amy Hasler on the second team.

No. 4 Lehigh (10-3, 3-3 PL)

Head Coach Judy Baxter; Assistant Coaches Olivia Long, Jill Redfern

All-Patriot League First Team Rosie Sherry

Roster

Statistics

ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN HAWKS: The Patriot League's other first-year head coach also led her team to the program's first-ever Patriot League Tournament. The Mountain Hawks posted the nation's best turnaround this season, winning six more matches than in 2002.

Lehigh’s tough defense earned a pair of players all-league honors. Senior defender Rosie Sherry was named to the All-Patriot League first team, while sophomore midfielder Barrie Cominsky earned second team honors. Sherry ranks sixth in the nation in caused turnovers per game with 2.92, while Cominsky is 15th at 2.42. Cominsky’s average of 4.0 ground balls per game also ranks her 13th in the country.