By Joe Pantorno, Sports Editor
Entering the weekend on a two game-winning streak, the Hofstra University field hockey team extended its stretch to four as an impressive offensive output against Siena on Friday and an upset of no. 16 Albany on Sunday has put the Pride on a hot streak.
Junior forward Krizia Layne led the offensive onslaught for the Pride, recording a career-tying four goals and adding an assist.
Layne had a first half hat trick in the game’s first 21 minutes, all of them coming unassisted. Senior forward Genna Kovar scored the second goal of the game between Layne’s efforts.
Kovar was not done though as she took over in the second half, scoring two goals in four minutes, getting a hat trick of her own.
Goals from freshman forward Jonel Boileau, sophomore forward Katelyn Horan and senior forward Darrah Rachman rounded out the scoring, a total of ten for the Pride, a season high.
The Pride also was relentless throwing shots at the net. For the match, Hofstra outshot Siena 42-4, a huge discrepancy.
The backline was as solid as ever on Sunday as Kovar netted another two goals, the winner coming in the last three minutes, as the Pride upset no. 16 Albany 3-2 at Hofstra field hockey stadium.
“I can’t be prouder. I’m elated over the win,” said head coach Kathy De Angelis. “I’m really proud of every single team member today.”
Hofstra had the first chance of the game as Kovar hooked up for a give and go with Layne, but the ball just hopped over Kovar’s stick with the net unmanned.
Minutes later, Kovar redeemed herself when a pass into the shooting area by sophomore midfielder Stephanie Cowles bounced around for a few moments before the forward put it in the back of the net with 4:36 gone in the first half.
Albany found the equalizer ten minutes later when some slick passing off a penalty corner found sophomore midfielder Corrine McConville, who finished past Hofstra senior goalkeeper Amanda Heyde.
Kovar almost had her second of the game after a dazzling run down the left side saw her effort hit the near post.
Hofstra pulled ahead with 10:06 remaining in the first half off a penalty corner when the ball sent in by junior forward Amy Lee-Levey was put in with a no-look, behind the back effort by Boileau.
Albany started to buzz, but the Hofstra defense denied the Great Danes as the teams went into the half with the score at 2-1. The Pride did have a problem giving up penalty corners, a total of eight in the first 35 minutes.
The Great Danes cashed in on its tenth penalty corner, sophomore forward Daphne Voormolen found a crack in Hofstra’s defense with four minutes gone in the second half.
Hofstra went up a man with 12 minutes gone in the second, but was not able to take advantage, only registering two shots with no success.
Frustration built when a goal was taken away from the Pride as the officials called a penalty corner as the ball hit the back of the net.
End to end action did not provide any goals until there was 2:39 remaining on the clock when it was Kovar again who provided a stunning diving, back-handed sweep shot that soared over the Albany keeper.
The Pride, who improves to 7-4 on the season, was able to hold on in the last moments of the game despite some heavy pressure from Albany.
“It was brilliant play from the backline today,” said De Angelis. “We had a few different players back there. I can’t say enough for [junior defender] Kerry Kiddoo, Amy [Lee-Levey], [junior defender] Codi [Nyland] and [senior midfielder] Arielle [Williams]. That backline today was so strong and there leadership was absolutely contagious today and that’s what really kept us to keep a high press on Albany today.”
The Pride travels to Virginia to start Colonial Athletic Association play against the top team of the nation, Old Dominion on Friday and William and Mary on Sunday.
