By Stacy Troiano
The rematch is set. With James Madison’s quarterfinal win over George Mason, the women’s soccer team will have its chance to avenge one of only three losses on the season in the CAA Tournament semifinals on Friday night in Virginia Beach.
The Pride wrapped up one of the best regular season campaigns in recent history last Thursday with a decisive 3-0 win over Northeastern. The win allowed them to secure a second place finish in the CAA, (behind 9-1-1 William and Mary) giving them a bye through to the conference tournament semifinals.
That’s where they stand now. With a week off to prepare, the Pride are set to make a run at its second CAA title, just one year removed from a season in which they missed the playoffs all together. Earlier this season, the Dukes defeated Hofstra 2-0.
“Obviously James Madison has had a tremendous year and will be playing with a lot of confidence,” head coach Simon Riddiough said. “But we both play a different style and we’re both going to compete.”
“James Madison will be stiff competition, but we deserved to beat them when we played them last, and after that loss, we’re fully determined to rewrite that score,” midfielder Diane Caldwell said.
The Pride head to Virginia Beach riding a four game win streak and a 15-3 record, the best regular season performance since the 1994 team went 16-1-1. Hofstra also finished with a 9-2 conference clip, setting a record for the most conference wins in program history.
The scorching offense, which has tallied a CAA-best 36 goals on the year, and a suffocating defense, led by senior Sue Weber and strong goaltending by junior Krystal Robens (.7 GAA, .82 SV PCT), which has recorded nine shutouts including four straight, have helped the Pride dominate from start to finish. Even in losses, Riddiough said his team has gained the confidence it needs to make a good run in the post-season.
“We’re playing well at the moment,” Riddiough said. “We’re playing with confidence, there’s a good energy around camp, and everything’s in our favor.”
“Hopefully we don’t get too nervous. Hopefully our game plan is correct; and hopefully we find a way to beat whoever we play,” he added.
The experience on the roster could prove to be crucial in keeping the nerves in check for the Pride. Fourteen members of the current squad were part of the 2005 CAA championship team, and their guidance will be an important factor for this year’s team, which relies on a good number of freshmen and sophomores.
Perhaps the greatest strength of this year’s Pride has been their ability to attack from any angle. With forward Carol Leurini tallying her first goal of the season in the win over Northeastern, Hofstra has had 16 different goal-scorers on the year.
Riddiough believes from top to bottom, the team is prepared for this crucial weekend.
“Going into this tournament, I think the biggest strengths have been our leadership, our athleticism, and the way we’re confident at every position,” he said. “I think everybody really thinks they’re playing well. We’re just going to play our best and hopefully that’ll be enough.”
James Madison comes into the weekend with a 16-3-1 record after its win over George Mason in the quarterfinals. The Dukes are led by likely CAA Rookie of the Year Cate Tisinger (8G, 9A) and senior Annie Lowry (8G, 5A).
The second semifinal puts CAA regular season champion William and Mary against Virginia Commonwealth, who advanced with a 3-1 win over UNC-Wilmington on Tuesday. William and Mary boasts arguably one of the best players in the conference in Claire Zimmeck, who has tallied 16 goals on the season. The Tribe also have a win this season over defending national champion North Carolina.
VCU enters tournament weekend with an 11-7-2 record on the year and face a tough task in the Tribe in Friday’s semifinals. The Rams will needs it top offensive weapons June Hartman and Megan Flanagan to come up big against a strong William and Mary team if they’re going to advance to Sunday’s final.
The Pride will face the Dukes in the weekend’s first semifinal game on Friday at 5pm at the Sportsplex in Virginia Beach. The second semifinal is set for 7pm on Friday, and the CAA championship game will be Sunday at 1pm.
Riddiough and his Pride have a tough task ahead, but nonetheless have the coolness and confidence it will take to continue their winning season, bring the title back to Long Island, and get its second NCAA tournament birth.
“We have to play as a team, work together and for each other, but above all play in the style that has gotten us this far,” Caldwell said. “As a team we’ve worked too hard to let it slip now.”
Qaroline Nahl and the Pride have their sights set on a CAA championship after an incredible rebound season that saw them earn the second seed for the postseason conference tournament. (Merab Okeyo)