On Sunday, Aug. 20, the Hofstra University women’s soccer team traveled to Piscataway, New Jersey, to continue their 2023 campaign, defeating the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights 1-0 at Yurcak Field.

After a 2-1 defeat from the University of Albany Great Danes, the Pride looked to bounce back and grab their first regular season win. Midfielder Olivia Pearse scored the game’s lone goal to give the Pride their first regular season win this year.

Pearse’s goal came in the 88th minute, giving the Scarlet Knights little time to try and find an equalizer. Midfielder Wiktoria Fronc found herself two versus one against Rutgers defenders as she dribbled down the middle of the pitch. Pearse made a run out wide where she received the ball from Fronc. She took one touch, saw the keeper was off her line and struck the ball from outside the box to give Hofstra a 1-0 lead.

The Pride’s back line and goalkeeper Mackenzie Sullivan kept the Scarlet Knights off the scoresheet. Just seven minutes into the match, the Pride made a defensive stop. Rutgers’s Riley Tiernan seemed to have the upper hand on forward Margaret Peterson, but Peterson made a smart tackle as she went to the ground, tackling the ball out of bounds and preventing Tiernan from having a shot on goal.

Sullivan made her first save of the evening when Rutgers’s midfielder Becci Fluchel took a shot from outside of the box that floated right into the arms of Sullivan. Sullivan recorded another save when forward Ashley Baran took a shot around the top of the 18-yard box. Sullivan went to the ground to secure the ball.

The Pride almost scored their first goal seven minutes before their 88th-minute winner. Forward Mathilde Braithwaite dribbled the ball down the right sideline where she then squared to Fronc toward the top of the box. Fronc then played the ball to defender Sasha McTiffin who went to take the shot, but goalkeeper Olivia Bodmer went to the ground to make the one one-on-one save, keeping the score at zero apiece.

The Pride finished with eight total shots and five on goal as Rutgers had 17 total shots and six on goal. Both goalkeepers made crucial saves for their sides as Sullivan recorded six saves and Bodmer recorded four.

Defender Gabriella Marte, forward Thorhildur Thorhallsdottir, Braithwaite, McTiffin and Pearse all recorded a shot on goal for the Pride.

Hofstra continues their travels to New York City on Friday, Aug. 25, to face Columbia University at 2 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Ariel Fox