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March 24, 2004 | Stats

Senior midfielder Tara Michael scored three goals to lead the Eagles, but AU lost to Colgate, 10-9.

HAMILTON, N.Y. — The American University women’s lacrosse team clawed its way back to within one goal with just over six minutes left after being down three with 15 minutes left, but the Eagles could not come up with the game-tying goal in a 10-9 loss to Colgate on Saturday at Tyler Field.

Both teams entered the contest with matching 5-0 PL records. With the win, Colgate grabbed the Patriot League regular-season title and the right to host the league tournament next weekend.

AU trailed by as many as four goals late in the first half, but the Eagles responded with a goal by Courtney Bennett (McLean, Va./McLean) from Nicole McCarthy (Flourtown, Pa./Springfield) with 26 ticks left in the opening period. Freshman Caitlin Gorman (Springfield, Va./Bishop Ireton) scored four minutes into the latter period to pull the Eagles to within two goals, 8-6.

The two teams traded a pair of goals, until Colgate's Anne Coomber tallied with 15:40 left to give the Raiders a 10-7 lead. However, with 10:51 left, McCarthy scored unassisted, and just over four minutes later senior Tara Michael (Owings, Md./South River) scored her third goal of the game to make the score 10-9.

American had a chance to tie with 1:21 when Gorman got off a shot in traffic, but the shot went wide. Colgate got the ball back off the shot and cleared it, and then ran out the clock for the victory.

Michael led AU with three goals and four ground balls, while McCarthy chipped in two goals, an assist, four ground balls and six caused turnovers.

AU (7-7, 5-1 PL) will now face third-seeded Bucknell in the first round of the Patriot League Championship Tournament on Saturday, May 1.