By By Amanda Guerriero

Three minutes into the game Jess Crankshaw’s third corner kick took an unusual path – right into the back of the net. Not an easy feat, but it epitomized an easy and fateful day for the Pride.

With the exception of some short corners, Crankshaw’s ability to take every corner and was instrumental during Saturday’s home opener the Pride past the Marist Red Foxes, 5-0, at the Hofstra Soccer Stadium. The offensive domination helped, too.

The Pride (2-2-1) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first half and never looked back. Outside a 10-minute period where it looked uninterested, the Pride outclassed the Red Foxes (1-4). Midfielder Larkin Hargraves buried the ball in the back of the net in the 34th minute of the game on an assist from midfielders Amber Albrecht and Edel Malone. Amber Albrecht added a score assisted by Asley Shaban in the 41st minute of the game to bring the Pride into half time with a 3-0 lead over Marist.

For the majority of the first half the Red Foxes were dominated. They did not attempt a shot until 17 minutes had gone by and it wasn’t even close to the net. The only thing that saved the Red Foxes from being run out of the building in the first half was the ability to execute an off sides trap. Marist was able to catch the Pride (2-2-1) off sides four times in the first half, but that is where the positives end.

The Pride beat Marist to every ball and kept possession allowing it to control the tempo of the game. With the midfielders and forwards applying pressure, the Pride defenders had that much easier of a job. The Pride was ready for this game physically and mentally.

The most important thing the Pride did – besides retain possessions – was spread the field. The Pride used the whole field to its advantage. Many of the attacks started with goalie Becky Wachsberger and worked from the outside to the inside of the field, which eliminated bunching.

The Pride attacked the most effective way possible – from the outside in. Every time a diagonal back pass went into the penalty spot a Pride player awaited.

The Pride coasted in the second half because of the commanding lead, but Marist showed flashed of life. The Red Foxes had two threatening shot attempts early in the second half. The Pride started to get sloppy and turn the ball over.

The Pride communicated throughout the second half. The quality of play went down from the first half, but kept the game under control. As the communication became constant, the Pride got back to the level of play it displayed in the first half.

The Pride added to the lead with two goals by Kacey O’Driscoll, both assisted by Marie Curtin. O’ Driscoll scored her goals in the 48th and 67th minutes. The first came after she breezed past three defenders to cap the Pride’s scoring.