The Hofstra University women’s soccer team fought to their third consecutive tie, a 1-1 draw against Brown University, on Thursday, Sept. 11. The Pride now sit at 3-1-3 and have not been found in the win column since Aug. 22. The Bears now sit at 4-1-2 with two New England matchups awaiting them before conference play.
The teams were evenly matched all night. The Pride had five shots on goal to the Bears’ six, and both teams earned 11 fouls.
Despite the first half not featuring any goals, the two teams played an exhilarating opening 45 minutes. Polly Watson and Olivia Pearse both sent shots on net in the first 20 minutes of play, but Brown’s goalkeeper Bella Schopp stood tall early. Hofstra keeper Lilly Bailey was tested plenty in the first half as well, making two saves of her own in the frame.
While Schopp kept the game scoreless, she got some help from the furniture; heading into the 27th minute, Thorhildur Thorhallsdottir sent a header to the right side of the net, which rang off the post.
Alexia Des Croisselles had a dominant first half on the back end: drawing multiple fouls, jamming up passing lanes and forcing several turnovers. The junior defender hit the deck a few times after drawing contact, but consistently bounced back up and returned to the action.
Tensions between the two squads were high all night thanks to physical play causing two yellow cards to be assessed in the second half. Aimee Hodgson was booked 14 minutes into the second half, and Brown’s Nadja Meite was assessed for a dangerous play when she kicked Watson’s shin in the 86th minute.
The second half began with Brown taking control of the action. The Bears recorded five of the first six shots and two of the first three corners. Bailey made another two saves, and the Pride benefited from some the Bear’s inaccurate shots.
Mathilde Braithwaite, who was all over the place throughout the match, made some magic happen in the 71st minute. Pressure from her and Manon Lebargy forced Brown to double back. Schopp received a pass and took her time assessing her next move, but by the time she made her decision, Braithwaite was right in front of her. She intercepted the pass and fired the ball into the back of the net for her first goal of her graduate campaign.
Four minutes later, Braithwaite nearly doubled Hofstra’s one-goal advantage, but the shot was an easy save for Schopp.
With eight minutes to go, the Pride had one final opportunity to strengthen their lead with a corner kick, but failed to register a shot.
The tide shifted significantly in Brown’s favor in the final 10 minutes, but Hofstra’s defense stifled a huge chance in the 84th minute. The Bears entered the six-yard box and Layla Shell sent the ball on net. Bailey made a diving save but was unable to control the ball. Ayla Sahin was in perfect position to deliver the tying goal, but Gabriella Marte got in front of the ball and blocked the shot. Sahin took the ball back, but Marte stole it and sent it deep, ending the threat.
Marte and Bailey’s heroics only delayed the inevitable, though. Pearse committed a foul, which set up a Brown free kick on the left side of the field deep in their offensive zone. With just under four minutes to go, Brooke Birtwistle perfectly placed the kick into the 18-yard box and directly onto the head of Naya Cardoza, who just barely had enough leverage on Marte to box her out and head the ball over Bailey and into the net, tying the match and securing the draw.
Hofstra finished their non-conference slate on Sunday, Sep. 14, with another Ivy League matchup. This time, Dartmouth College paid a visit to Hempstead. Gametime was set for 1 p.m. at Captains Field.
