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March 27, 2004 | Stats

Sophomore defender Laura Barnes caused five turnovers and picked up six ground balls to help AU's defense hold Lafayette to the second fewest goals in a game in school history in a 17-3 win Saturday.

WASHINGTON — The American University women’s lacrosse team’s defense allowed the second-fewest goals in a game in school history and the offense provided plenty of punch in a 17-3 thrashing of visiting Lafayette College Saturday at Reeves Field. The win was AU’s first ever victory over the Leopards in four meetings.

Senior Tara Michael (Owings, Md./South River) staked the Eagles to a 2-0 lead less than four minutes into the contest with her 11th and 12th goals of the season. Lafayette’s Lauren Ricca pulled the Leopards to back within one with a goal at the 23:15 mark.

However, American scored the next 14 goals of the game to run away with the victory. Included in that run were three goals by sophomore Moriah Linnell (Antrim, N.H./Contoocook Valley) and two more by Michael. Linnell and Michael each finished with a game-high four goals, and Linnell added an assist. Rebecca Copeland (Webster, N.Y./Webster) added three goals, to push her team-leading total to 23, and chipped in her second and third assists of the season.

Lafayette’s Jill Marvin added two late goals for the visitors, but the Leopards fell to 2-6 overall and 1-2 in the Patriot League.

Defensively, a trio of Eagles led the way. Senior Nicole McCarthy (Flourtown, Pa./Springfield) and sophomore Laura Barnes (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis) each caused five turnovers, while Barnes picked up six ground balls and McCarthy five. In cage, sophomore Kathleen Finnegan (Arnold, Md./St. Mary’s) earned the win by stopping five shots and allowing just one goal in 40 minutes.

The Eagles allowed just two goals in a game three times, twice in the 1997 season, versus Columbia and NCAA Div. II Limestone College. AU also gave up just two goals versus Denver in the 2002 season.

With the win, AU improves to 4-4 on the season, and maintains a half-game lead over Colgate for first place in the Patriot League with a 3-0 record. The Raiders are 2-0 in the PL after a 15-4 win over Villanova earlier today.