The Hofstra women’s soccer team is headed to their second straight Colonial Athletic Association Championship final after defeating Towson University 2-0 on Sunday, Oct. 30, on the back of stellar defense. After an early penalty kick set the tone for Hofstra, the Pride only allowed 2 shots on goal in the entire game.

In the 10th minute, Towson’s Rebecca Groseibl drew a yellow card, giving the Pride’s Olivia Pearse a penalty kick opportunity. She knocked the penalty kick into the net and gave Hofstra an early 1-0 lead.

Towson’s Phoebe Canoles got a shot on goal in the first half, but it was easily saved by Hofstra’s Skylar Kuzmich. Hofstra regained possession and fired off a corner kick before the end of the half but couldn’t make anything of the chance. The score going into halftime remained 1-0 in favor of the Pride.

Towson came out in the second half in an attacking mode as Reese Borden quickly put up a shot on goal only three minutes in, although the shot missed wide left. Hofsra quickly regained possession and went straight at Towson’s defense. The Pride put up a slew of shots. Freshman midfielder Thorhildur Thorhallsdottir extended the Pride’s lead, scoring on an assist by Anja Suttner with just over 35 minutes left to go. The goal was Thorhallsdottir’s seventh of the year as she now leads the Pride in both goals and points.

Towson continued to push the pace as they felt their backs against the wall, but the Pride held them in place to defend their CAA Championship crown from last season.

Hofstra will now face Northeastern University in the CAA Championship final, for the fourth time in the last nine seasons, on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m., in Brookline, Massachusetts. These two teams faced off in early October with Northeastern winning 2-1.

Photo Courtesy of Neil Miller/Hofstra Athletics