April 3, 2004

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Rebecca Copeland scored three goals and Lynn Brandon added two more to help lift American University (5-5 overall, 4-0 Patriot League) to a 6-3 victory over Villanova (1-10 overall, 0-3 Patriot League) on an overcast day at Villanova Stadium.

Copeland's first goal came just 61 seconds into the contest as she took a feed from Lindsay Cartin and beat Wildcat goalie Jess Brozena to make it 1-0. That tandem teamed up again with 11:54 to go in the first half for another Eagle goal to make the count 2-0.

American extended the lead to 3-0 when Brandon accepted a pass from Moriah Linnell and converted it for a score with 6:27 left in the half. Goalie Kathleen Finnegan made two first half saves to help keep Villanova off the scoreboard.

Copeland and Caitlin Gorman scored goals just 13 seconds apart early in the second half to make it a 5-0 game. Villanova responded with goals from freshman Becky Gardner and junior Bess Hanley to narrow the gap to 5-2. But another Brandon goal pushed the lead back to 6-2.

Senior Lauren Ferrara scored her first goal of the campaign for Villanova with 2:17 to go to complete the scoring.

Brozena was again strong in net for the Wildcats, making eight saves on the day, while Finnegan was credited with seven.

Villanova is idle until April 10, when it travels to meet another Patriot League rival, Lehigh, at 1:00 p.m.