For a program record fourth consecutive match, the Hofstra University women’s soccer team played to a tie in a 0-0 stalemate against Dartmouth University. The Pride now sit at 3-1-4 while the Big Green move to 3-2-2.
“I can’t question the energy and effort my team put in,” said Simon Riddiough, Hofstra’s head coach. “The frustrating part is we just didn’t get the rewards we deserved.”
The Pride were held silent at Captains Field once again. The offense has sputtered in the absence of Millie Davies and only scored one goal in her three-game absence.
“We’re obviously missing Davies … when you lose your best attacking player, it’s always going to be difficult to find goals,” Riddiough said. “She’s great on set pieces, she can strike from distance, she’s got quick feet, she has confidence and belief in herself that she’s going to receive the ball under pressure and not give up possession … When she comes back, we will be pretty excited.”
The versatility of Davies will offer opportunities for Hofstra as well.
“She is a center midfielder, and that allows us to rotate a bit,” Riddiough said. “Polly [Watson] and [Aimee Hodgson] worked their socks off Thursday night against a really good midfield. They’re two pasty English players who don’t like the hot weather, and they ran around today for 90 minutes … With [Davies] in, we can rotate them and give them 10 to 15 minute breaks, and maybe they’ll be a bit fresher.”
Despite some frustration and an offense that was held silent once again, the Pride put on a stellar defensive performance. Hofstra kept Dartmouth, who came in averaging two and a half goals per game with nearly 18 shots per game, off the scoresheet and held them to just nine shots.
“The last three games out, [the] defensive setup has been fantastic,” Riddiough said. “It starts from the two forwards, how they press with three midfielders doing their defensive duty, it truly is a team effort. The back four have been brilliant … you’ve got to give Gabriella Marte the answer there, she’s the leader in the back and the vocal organizer.”
The stout defense received some reinforcements on Sunday, Sept. 14, with Ava Lanfredi returning from injury. Lanfredi started on opening night but injured her ankle in the first half. In her return, she played 14 minutes spread across both halves.
“Alexia [Des Croisselles] is carrying a little bit of a knock,” Riddiough said. “We put [Lanfredi] in, and we don’t miss a beat. She’s winning headers, she’s winning tackles and she’s playing safe.”
Des Croisselles started and tallied 76 minutes. The junior took a beating on Thursday, Sept. 11, in a physical bout with Brown University. The return of Lanfredi lightened the Jacksonville State transfer’s load.
Both teams rattled off nine shots, with three of Hofstra attempts reaching goal compared to two from Dartmouth. The first half was relatively uneventful offensively on both sides. Hofstra keeper Lilly Bailey made routine stops on Hailey Rorick and Stephanie Lathrop. Dartmouth goalkeeper, Ola Goebel, who made her first collegiate start in this match, stopped two shots as well.
Bailey went untested in the second stanza, but Goebel stepped up multiple times to keep things scoreless. Not only did she make a save on Carly-Ann Dziewirz, but she robbed Dziewirz multiple times in the six-yard box. One time cutting off a perfectly placed pass, which likely could have been tapped in had Dziewirz beaten her to the punch, and cutting the reserve forward off once again during a corner kick.
Dziewirz led a bench unit that has provided a spark for the Pride all season long.
“They do come on and do a great job, and I’ve got four or five people behind them who would do a great job,” Riddiough said. “I thought the reserves who came on were fantastic, I thought they gave us energy … There was no drop in level, which is all we can ask.”
Conference play is next up for the Pride. They welcome Elon University to Long Island on Thursday, Sept. 18. Elon has kept six clean sheets thus far and presents a tough challenge for Hofstra’s offense. Gametime is set for 7 p.m. on Captains Field.
