By Bob Bonett
Hofstra has found its goalie of the future.
With a strong close to the season, it appears as though Krysten Farriella may be on her way to claiming permanent hold to Hofstra’s goalkeeper situation.
Farriella managed to allow only one goal in Hofstra’s final three games, (a penalty kick in the decisive Northeastern match up), including two shutouts, to prove that storied Becky Wachsberger may very well have an heir apparent at Hofstra University.
Forced to split duties with red-shirt sophomore Krystal Robens for most of the year, Farriella caught Coach Simon Riddiough’s eye by the end of the season and earned her fulltime keeper duties.
Maybe the comparison to Wachsberger was slightly premature. Statistically, though, Farriella managed to match up nicely to Wachsberger’s final, and perhaps greatest, season with the pride. Farriella finished the season with 60 saves and a goal against average of 0.91, only two tenths higher than Wachsberger’s mark of the prior year.
In addition, during the five games Farriella played wire to wire, Farriella managed to improve in quite a short period of time. If Farriella’s progression continues, 2007 may be a break out year for the soon-to-be sophomore.
That Farriella possesses the big game mentality that is essential in all Division I soccer goalies.
Farriella cannot necessarily take all of the credit for all of her late season success, though. As she also noted following her second shutout, a 2-0 victory over Delaware, “great communication” on a defensive line headed by superstar Sue Weber lends a helping hand to any maturing goalkeeper.
The stats do not lie, though, and that being said, Farriella appears to be a legitimate candidate to lead the Hofstra Pride to unprecedented success in 2007. Perhaps another berth in the NCAA tournament is well in reach, and maybe even a trip into the deeper rounds of the tournament is a firm possibility.