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April 5, 2003 | Stats

Nadia Harmsen had three goals and an assist while breaking the school record in career draw controls against Villanova.

WASHINGTON — The American University women’s lacrosse team used a nine-goal second half to defeat Villanova and become the first team in the Patriot League to secure a spot in the tournament held at the end of the month. Rebecca Copeland, Nadia Harmsen and Gina Riitano each had three goals while Harmsen and Riitano added an assist to help the Eagles to the 14-7 victory. AU (8-3, 4-1 PL) controlled most of the game, earning 15 draw controls compared to only eight for Villanova (4-5, 1-3 PL) and outshooting the Wildcats, 36-21.

After an early 1-1 tie, AU scored three consecutive goals to open a 4-1 advantage with 5:16 remaining in the first half. An unassisted goal by Bess Hanley brought Villanova within two. Laura Repoli then found Harmsen with 2:52 reamining, but Hanley scored on a free position shot as the Eagles went the half with a 5-3 lead.

AU started quickly in the second half as Riitano netted an unassisted goal 35 seconds into the half. Moriah Linnell scored off a feed from Katy Zaweski three minutes later as the Eagles went up, 7-3. Villanova struck back with back-to-back goals by Amy Rocap and Leslie McDermott before AU put the game away.

A five-goal run by the Eagles gave American a 12-5 lead. Five different AU players scored during this stretch with Copeland, Harmsen and Riitano all netting goals as well as Nicole McCarthy and Jamie Crean. The squads traded goals over the final three minutes of the game with the final goal of the game scored by Crean as Repoli had her second assist of the match.

After Villanova held a 6-3 advantage in draw controls in the first half, AU won 12 of the 14 draws in the second stanza. The Eagles also gathered 44 ground balls while the Wildcats had 36. Kathleen Finnegan made seven saves in goal for AU while Jess McGrattan saved 13 shots for Villanova.

Crean added a team-high four draw controls to her two goals and assist. Harmsen set the career record at AU for draw controls as she earned two in the match to give her 100 for her career. Harmsen also had five ground balls and three caused turnovers. Riitano added six ground balls, McCarthy grabbed five and Laura Barnes had three caused turnovers and five ground balls.

AU’s win coupled with Colgate’s defeat of Lafayette puts the Eagles in the driver’s seat for the regular-season title. A win at Holy Cross next Saturday clinches the title and home-field advantage for AU.

The Eagles return to action on Wednesday as Richmond visits Reeves Field. The match begins at 3:30 p.m.

Notes: Harmsen only needs one more goal to become the fourth AU player with 100 goals in her career ... McCarthy needs one ground ball to tie the career record for ground balls at American ... the 73 assists this season by the team set a new school record.