By Kyle Kandetzki – SPORTS EDITOR
The Hofstra Pride field hockey team can smile knowing they are back in the CAA Tournament, but their final regular season tune-up might not leave them feeling as happy.
The James Madison Dukes beat the Pride with ease on Sunday 8-1, the regular season finale for both teams. JMU’s Adrienne le Vatte notched a hat trick, while Claudia Marin Samper had the only Pride score.
The Dukes completed the regular season at an undefeated 6-0, and will host the CAA Tournament. James Madison will face Drexel, while Hofstra will faceoff against Delaware as the third seed. The Pride’s semifinal matchup takes place Friday in Virginia.
James Madison wasted no time getting on the board, with le Vatte sending in her first of the day just three minutes in. JMU’s Taylor West then capitalized on a penalty stroke just four minutes later, the first of two of the day for the conference’s third-best scorer.
Hofstra calmed things down before James Madison jumped right back on the Pride defense, and Lauren Saltus in net, scoring four times in just over six minutes. Two of the goals came from le Vatte, completing her hat trick in just 22:47. JMU went into the break up 6-0.
Hofstra was the first on the board in the second, with Marin Samper finishing off her resume for CAA player of the year with goal number 18 at the 45-minute mark.
Loes Stijntjes and West tacked on two more scores at the 51st and 57th minute to bring the game to its final 8-1.
The seven-goal loss was the worst for the Pride since falling to Albany 7-0 on August 29th, 2014.
Saltus took the first loss of her career in goal for the Pride, but still finished the regular season with a 5-1 mark.
Hofstra will meet Delaware at 5:30 p.m. on Friday evening at James Madison University. The last time the teams met was on Oct. 9, with Delaware winning 4-2.
