The Hofstra University field hockey team got back into the win column, taking down Villanova University 2-1 in overtime in their annual Morgan’s Message game on Sunday, Sept. 14.
Teresa Karoff scored her team-leading fourth goal, which was also the game-winner on a penalty stroke in overtime. Jaime Lewis got Hofstra’s first goal of the game in the first quarter, assisted by Gwenn van Dijk.
Villanova’s Colleen Finnan broke the scoreless tie three minutes into the game on a redirected shot off a penalty corner. After the Wildcats’ goal on their first shot of the game, they couldn’t beat freshman goaltender, Luci Hollister.
Hollister made seven saves in the win to bring her to 37 saves on the season. Hollister’s .804 save percentage ranks No. 18 in the nation.
“[Hollister’s] fantastic,” said Hofstra head coach Hillary Fitts. “She works with Coach [Katarina] Polyviou and [Tessa] Lambright to challenge each other, which I think is helping her build up her confidence. She’s done a phenomenal job in the cage and has stepped up nicely to make some great saves.”
After both teams got on the board in the first quarter, Hofstra and Villanova each had some great opportunities, particularly off corners. Neither team could find the back of the net throughout the rest of regulation.
“It was a lot of mental push that led us to this result,” Fitts said. “We seem to really love overtime and strokes.”
Five minutes into the overtime frame, the Wildcats nearly iced the game on a shot from Ashton Odiorne. The Wildcats attacker took a rising shot that Hollister got a piece of with her blocker pad. The ball trickled behind Hollister, landing on the goal line. Before the ball could roll across, Hollister used her stick to knock it off the goal line and out of harm’s way for the Pride.
On the other end, Hofstra drew a penalty stroke two minutes later. Karoff was elected to take the stroke because she was 2/4 on the season from the dot. Karoff’s first attempt was saved by Villanova goalkeeper, Sophie Volkel, with a diving effort to her left. The referees reviewed the play and determined that Volkel moved before Karoff touched the ball, giving her an advantage that resulted in a foul and a redo for Karoff.
“We noticed what the goalie did on the first attempt,” Fitts said. “So we gave her two options. She chose which one she was the most comfortable with and she finished it, so it worked itself out.”
The Pride are now second place in the Coastal Athletic Association at 4-2, matching the Pride’s win total from 2024 in 13 fewer games. The win was Hofstra’s third consecutive victory, extending past 60 minutes of play.
In the pregame, the Pride honored Morgan Rodgers, a former Duke University lacrosse player, who took her own life after a battle with mental health. Hofstra’s team representative, Tess Satterfield, read a speech before the game emphasizing the nonprofit’s initiative to remove the stigma around mental health for student athletes.
The Pride take the field next on Sunday, Sept. 21, when they host the University of California, Davis at 12 p.m.
