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Eagle Lacrosse Prepares for NCAA Tournament
AU to face Virginia in NCAA First Round

May 7, 2003 | Complete Gamenotes | NCAA Bracket

Robyn Mincher and the women's lacrosse team will play Virginia in the NCAA First Round on Thursday.

WASHINGTON — The Patriot League champion American University women’s lacrosse team will play in its first-ever NCAA Tournament game on Thursday at No. 3 Virginia. The match begins at 4 p.m. at Klockner Stadium in Charlottesville, Va.

The trip to the NCAA Tournament is only part of the most successful season in school history. The Eagles have broken or tied 11 records this season. AU set school records for wins (11), goals in a season (225) and assists in a season (96).

Individually, senior All-Patriot League Second Team member and Patriot League Tournament MVP Nadia Harmsen became only the fourth player in school history to have 100 points and 100 goals in her career. She also set a school record by becoming the only player ever to have 100 draw controls in her career.

Sophomore Gina Riitano, a member of the All-Patriot League First Team, broke the AU single-season mark for points with 60. She also set the school record for draw controls in a season with 50 and is currently 15th in the country in draw controls per game.

Junior Nicole McCarthy also made her mark on the record book, becoming the first Eagle to collect more than 200 career ground balls as she set the school record.

Joining Riitano on the All-Patriot League First Team was senior Robyn Mincher who makes her second appearance on the squad. Sophomore Rebecca Copeland and freshman Kathleen Finnegan were named to the All-Patriot League Second Team. Finnegan is currently 16th in the country in save percentage. Head coach Maureen Dupcak was named Patriot League Coach of the Year.

The match with Virginia marks the first time that the two schools have met and the first ACC school that American has ever played. Virginia enters the game with a 14-4 record while American is 11-7. The winner of the match will play the winner of Georgetown-James Madison on May 11.