By Bob Bonett
Entering the weekend, the Pride women’s soccer team sat in a dire position, two games below .500 in the conference, and seemingly miles away from the weekend. But by 3 pm on Sunday, Simon Riddiough’s crew looked like a team destined for a berth back in the CAA playoffs.
The essential win may not have been a pretty one on Sunday against the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens (8-7-3, 3-6-1 CAA), but as freshman standout Jill Lipari said, “Whatever works.”
And not only was the win “ugly,” (another assessment of the team’s play by Lipari), but it was quite atypical. After winning Friday’s game over Drexel behind walk-on freshman Erika Fuertes’ first career goal, combined with fellow rookie goalkeeper Krysten Farriella’s first career shutout, Hofstra’s underclassmen came through again.
Lipari scored her fourth goal of the season, Fuertes tallied her second score of the weekend and Farriella played another 90 flawless minutes en route to a 2-0 victory.
The scoring began early for the Pride (9-8-1, 5-5). As opposed to the recent trend of failing to score exhibited by Hofstra’s defense, Lipari put one past impressive Delaware goalie Bonnie Mills at the 1:14 mark off a feed from Larkin Hargraves to put the Pride up 1-0. And for the next 20 minutes, Hofstra looked poised to score again, placing constant pressure on Delaware’s stingy defense, taking nine shots.
Yet, with only 12 minutes left in the first half, it looked as though Scott Grzenda’s Hens were going to knot up the game at the half.
First, junior forward Kendall Lytwynec sent a shot just high toward the Hofstra net. Then, after a scare on a Hens corner kick, Farriella needed to make a big stop with 5:30 left in the half to prevent a goal from the attacking Delaware team.
Despite this pressure from Delaware, though, Hofstra entered the half up 1-0.
“We were sloppy and were unable to step in front of passes in the first half,” Fariella said. “But we stepped up the communication in the second half, and managed to prevent Delaware from staying on the attack.”
This increase in defensive play made for a much easier second half for the Pride. Mills needed to make a few very impressive stops as the Pride’s attack remained persistent in the second half, finally culminating in Fuertes’ clincher with just over five minutes left.
Riddiough appeared excited with his team’s defense and desire following the win. “We stepped up the intensity during the game. It wasn’t the greatest Hofstra performance, but the teamwork was awesome,” he said. He added that it was great that his defense was able to stop an “impressive Delaware attack.”
Meanwhile, Fuertes’ excitement was evident. “I feel really good, and my confidence has been boosted,” she said, referring to her recent scoring spree.
She continued to say that the freshmen were not the only ones leading the way over the weekend, but it was a group effort. “Sue [Weber], Kariena [Richards] and Jacki [Pollaro] held the back this weekend, and helped us win both games.”
In net, Farriella’s confidence appeared to be soaring after the victory, both in herself and in the team. “I’ve definitely embraced the starting role,” Farriella said. She went on to say that the team should definitely beat Northeastern on Thursday night and make the playoffs. “With home-field advantage, I think we will be fine.”
Riddiough also appeared confident regarding the upcoming contest with Northeastern.
“We have an aura about our home field, and we will be confident and happy to play them at home.”
With a win over Northeastern, the Pride can attempt to repeat as conference champions and make another trip to the NCAA Tournament. With a loss, it will be a long November for the girls. The season’s fate clearly rests with Thursday night’s performance.