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April 6, 2004 | Stats

Senior midfielder Tara Michael tallied four goals, but it wasn't enough to overcome Richmond in a 9-7 loss.

RICHMOND, Va. — American University women's lacrosse got four goals from senior Tara Michael (Owings, Md./South River), but the Eagles were unable to dig themselves out of an early four-goal hole in a 9-7 loss to the University of Richmond Tuesday at Lacrosse Field.

The Spiders scored the first four goals of the game, including two by Morgan Vahue, and led 4-0 just 10 minutes into the contest. AU couldn't find the net until the 12:11 mark of the first, when Michael scored her first goal unassisted.

After Richmond tallied again to extend its lead to 5-1, AU freshman Caitlin Gorman (Springfield, Va./Bishop Ireton) singlehandedly brought the Eagles back into the game with consecutive unassisted goals less than three minutes apart to make the score 5-3 with 7:08 left in the opening period. The two teams traded goals just before halftime, including a goal by AU's Rebecca Copeland (Webster, N.Y./Webster) with just three ticks left in the first period.

Strong goaltending in the opening period by Kathleen Finnegan (Arnold, Md./St. Mary's) helped the Eagles begin to chip away at the Spiders' lead. Finnegan had six first-half saves, and finished with 10 on the day. However, turnovers by AU proved to be costly, as the Eagles gave the ball away 10 times in the first half.

Michael opened the scoring in the second half with a unassisted tally at the 26:26 mark to pull AU within one at 6-5, but the Eagles were unable to get the equalizer. Richmond scored just 1:10 later, and AU could get no closer than two the rest of the way.

Kerri McGinty (Huntington, N.Y./Harborfields) and Laura Barnes (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis) led the Eagles defensive effort with two caused turnovers and three ground balls each.

AU returns to action this Saturday, April 10, when Monmouth visits Reeves Field for a noon start.