Looking for a major upset, Colgate faced top-seeded American University in the Patriot League tournament semifinals last Friday in Washington D.C. No team in the conference had beaten the Eagles, but could Colgate rise to the challenge? While the Raiders gave it their best, they lost to the eventual Patriot League champions, 4-1.

The Eagles maintained offensive control for much of the first half, but the Raider defense held strong until 19:25. At that mark, sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Pedersen blocked a shot, but American’s Savannah Graybill controlled the rebound and put the ball past her. With eight minutes left in the half, American struck again, as Kristin Gebhart sunk a shot fed to her by Denise Infante.

The Eagle dominance continued into the second half. Ten minutes in, a fourth-touch shot off a penalty corner by Anne-Meike DeWiljes snuck past Pedersen. Looking to add one more mark to the board, American secured its fourth goal of the game with nine minutes left, as Christine Fingerhuth found the cage on a rebounded shot.

Yet Colgate was not done trying. With just under two minutes left in the game, senior Natali Plesniarski fed the ball to junior Lauren Carey for the lone Raider goal of the day.

Despite the 4-1 loss, the ladies did not go home empty-handed. Senior Heather Davis and junior Laura Flisnik were both named to the All-Tournament Team. In addition, Carey’s goal was her eleventh of the season, a team best. Also, Plesniarski’s assist tied her with junior Maddie Watrobski at second place on Colgate’s single-season record list with ten assists. Plesniarski’s assist also raised her school-record of career assists to 21.

The Raiders ended their season 8-9 overall. Next season, they will return to the turf without Davis, Plesniarski and senior Lauren Remkus. Despite this fact, the future for the ladies appears bright.

“We can only get better from where we are now.” Flisnik said. “Even though we graduated some key players this year, we have a strong core of girls who are willing to give it all they have in order to be the best team we can be.”