Gio Annatelli – STAFF WRITER
The Hofstra Pride broke a three-game skid on Friday with a 2-1 victory over Rider University. The Broncos were undefeated going into the game but dropped 4-1 after running into the Pride.
It was a big game for junior captain Colby Hussong, as Rider is coached by her mother, Lori, and her father, Dan, serves as the assistant coach.
Colby’s brother, Michael, is also a volunteer assistant for Rider. She is 2-0 when facing her parents’ team. Colby managed only one shot on the day.
“It’s like family playing [Rider] now,” said head coach Kathy De Angelis. “We’re so close with the Hussongs, emotions definitely played a big factor.
Both teams had plenty of chances to take the lead, but were unsuccessful and went into the half scoreless. The Pride outshot the Broncos in the first half 10-5.
Once the second half started, Hofstra began to run away with game and started to take over.
“Rider razzled us in a few places and made it very difficult for us to get a shot off,” said De Angelis.
In the 48th minute, Charlotte Loehr broke the scoreless tie after picking up the rebound off a shot by Simca Schoen. Loehr picked up her first goal of the year after having a career-high 10 goals last year.
Then just over a minute later, it was Stella Schoen to put the Pride up 2-0 by weaving through Rider’s defense and beating the Bronco goalie, Jolle Prettyman, high left. It was her fifth goal of the year, tying her with teammate Claudia Marin Samper for the team lead.
Hofstra goalie Carys Swan was seconds away from her second career shutout before Rachel Ippolite of Rider deflected a pass into the net to spoil the shutout.
The Pride outshot the Broncos 25-9 in total and had a 10-6 advantage for penalty corners.
Two days later, Hofstra stayed home and started a winning streak of their own, as they beat UC Davis 4-2.
The Pride changed their fortunes from a losing record to a winning one, being at 4-3 overall over the weekend. The Aggies fell to 3-5 on the season.
“We were challenged by a strong UC Davis team. They pressed us all over the field,” said Kathy DeAnglis. “Thankfully we scored early and we scored three quick goals and that did save us.”
Hofstra wasted no time, as Claudia Marin Samper received a cross-field pass from Simca Schoen to beat UC Davis goalie Erica Cohen one-on-one for the goal.
Marin Samper wasn’t done with that, as she picked up a loose ball right in front of the net to bury it for her second goal of the game, and her seventh on the year.
Then, just five minutes later, freshman Samantha Schlegel put the Pride up 3-0 with a tip-in from a shot by Emily Barber. Coming off the bench, it was Schlegel’s fourth goal of the year.
Once the second half started, the Aggies cut the lead to two when Jamie Garcia scored in the 41st minute off of a penalty corner. Colby Hussong didn’t let that go unnoticed, as she scored a backhanded goal in the 58th minute to put the Pride back up 4-1. On the final play of the game, the Aggies would bury one home off another penalty corner. Kate Young would get the tip-in for UC Davis to end the game at 4-2.
Unlike Friday’s game, the Pride was outshot 23-13 and had less penalty corners, 11-2, than UC Davis. Carys Swan had a fantastic weekend, going 2-0 while allowing 3 goals on 12 saves.
Hofstra field hockey will return this Friday as they host the University of Massachusetts Lowell Riverhawks. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.
