Just one year after the field hockey team fell to Patriot League powerhouse American University in the opening round of the 2007 Patriot League Field Hockey tournament, the Raiders found themselves facing the same challenge in this year’s playoff race. Earning the fourth seed in this year’s league tournament matched the Raiders up against the first-seeded Eagles in last Friday’s first round semifinal game of the 2008 Patriot League Field Hockey Tournament. Unfortunately for Colgate, history would prove to repeat itself as the Raiders fell to the eventual league champions, 5-1.

American’s three-goal first half left Colgate scoreless and stunned as both teams entered the half time intermission.

Utilizing the mid-game break as an opportunity to re-focus, Colgate came out in the second half ready to fight as the Raiders blasted in their first, and only, goal of the game just 33 seconds after the break. The tally resulted when junior forward Katelyn Nerbonne found senior midfielder Lauren Carey in the circle ready to score.

American would register two more goals of their own in the second half, giving the Eagles the 5-1 win and ticket to their sixth consecutive Patriot League Championship game, which they would later go on to win. The Eagles also won a NCAA Tournament Play-In game against Lock Haven to earn a NCAA Tournament berth.

“Despite the loss, the fact that we made it to post-season play for the second year in a row is an important thing for our program,” Nerbonne shared. “Next year everyone on the team, with the exception of the incoming freshman class, will have playoff experience, which will be key to ensure that we will make it here again.”

Not all was lost in the Raider’s trip to the Patriot League Tournament however, as both Nerbonne and senior co-captain Laura Flisnik were later named to the Patriot League All-Tournament team; the recognition was the first for Nerbonne, while Flisnik proved to be a repeat member from last year’s All-Tournament team.

Also worthy of note is that last week, five of Colgate’s players were named to All-League teams. Senior defender Maddie Watrobski and Carey were both named to the Patriot League’s First Team; while Flisnik, Nerbonne, and sophomore forward Laura Denenga were each named to the Second Team. The recognitions were firsts in each player’s career.