By Jeffrey Werner - Staff Writer
The Hofstra Pride ended their two-game home stand on a high note by beating Columbia University 4-3. Stella Schoen stepped up, scoring the game-winning goal in sudden death regulation.
The Pride came into their match riding a four-game losing streak, two of which were against ranked opponents, No. 11 Syracuse and CAA opponent No. 17 Northeastern. Knowing there was only a little over a month left in the season, coach Kathy De Angelis and the Pride knew how important a win would be to gaining back momentum that they had during the first part of the season.
“It was huge. Very important,” coach De Angelis commented after the game. “We did have a rough start, and that was unfortunate, but our resilience throughout the match got stronger and stronger, and I’m really proud of how became back with just a relentless attitude which is sometimes needed in games like this against tough teams like Columbia.”
From the start, it seemed as though Hofstra was going to be handed another loss as Columbia struck early in the first half. Forward Zoe Black scored a goal for Columbia just a minute into the game. Columbia then followed the goal up with another goal by Rebecca Pope three minutes later. Both goals came off of penalty corners, which Columbia drew many of in the first half: a total of seven.
While Columbia enjoyed success on offense, Hofstra was struggling to get the ball into their opponent’s side of the field. When they did get the ball on the other side, however, the Pride had little to no success capitalizing on their opportunities.
However, as the first half was drawing to a close, Hofstra was able to turn momentum in their favor. The Pride received a late penalty corner, and sophomore midfielder Charlotte Loehr set up senior forward Claudia Marin-Samper for her 10th goal on the season.
The second half looked to be much of the same as Columbia once again kept the ball on Hofstra’s side of the field, eventually capitalizing on a Zoe Black goal four minutes into the second half.
Hofstra responded by taking control of the second part of the second half, keeping the ball on Columbia’s half of the field and scoring two goals.
Marin-Samper helped put Hofstra back on the comeback trail as she scored her second goal of the game and her 11th of the season, at 41:18. She was assisted again by Loehr, her second of the season.
Marin-Samper and Loehr switched roles for the second goal, and Loehr benefitted from a setup by Marin-Samper and sophomore midfielder Colby Hussong off a corner for her seventh goal of the season. The assist was Marin-Samper’s sixth of the season and Hussong’s third.
Not much scoring was on display afterwards, and the game was decided in overtime. Hofstra looked to create their opportunities early on in overtime as they maintained the ball on Columbia’s side of the field. Off of a penalty corner, sophomore Stella Schoen rebounded a shot and put the ball into the goal, scoring her second goal of the season and winning the game for Hofstra.
Prior to their match against Columbia, the Pride hosted No. 17 Northeastern on Friday. This game was the first of Hofstra’s conference play.
Hofstra looked to make a statement early as Jonel Boileau scored the first goal of the game at 5:15, her ninth of the season.
Northeastern responded with a goal of their own a minute later by Kate Carlson. That goal was followed by another goal by Emma Lamison at 30:07.
Between the time of Carlson’s and Lamison’s goals, both teams had a rough time getting shots off, especially Hofstra. The Pride couldn’t center their passes, usually out of reach of the other Hofstra player or intercepted by a Northeastern defender. At one point, Hofstra actually had a great opportunity to break the tie and it looked like they did exactly that, but the referee waved it off, claiming the ball was shot from outside the circle.
Before the half ended, each team scored one goal. Hofstra’s goal to tie the game was scored by Simca Schoen at 31:46, for her second of the season. Jonel Boileau was credited with the assist. Northestern’s go-ahead goal was scored by Natalie Stewart at 34:07.
Northeastern started the second half by increasing their lead by two goals. Kelly Dunn scored the Huskies’ fourth goal at 42:34.
Hofstra responded with a goal by Marin-Samper, her ninth of the season. Coach De Angelis commented on the offensive attack led by Boileau and Marin-Samper.
“We are so dangerous. I believe we are the most dangerous striker line in the CAA, and if we can connect, and we get Stella Schoen back in the lineup. She certainly had a great performance today, outside of not-scoring.”
Unfortunately, the offense ran out of steam towards the end, and Northeastern handed Hofstra it’s first loss in conference play.
The Pride will travel to Philadelphia to continue CAA conference play against Drexel University and then come back on Sunday to take on Rider University at 1:00 p.m. at Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium.
