The Hofstra women’s soccer team kept their hopes of defending their Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship crown alive by defeating the College of Charleston 2-1 on Sunday, Oct. 16. The two teams met in the midst of being tied for ninth place in the conference standings, and the win for Hofstra significantly increases their chances of qualifying for the conference tournament entering the final week of the regular season.
“If we didn’t win today, we probably aren’t in [the tournament],” said Hofstra head coach Simon Riddiough. “Destiny is in our hands now. Overall, we’ve put ourselves in good position with this week’s result.”
Hofstra got on the board first when Olivia Pease out-hustled a Charleston defender to a loose ball which she moved up the sideline with an excellent outlet pass that sprung Krista Agostinello free with nothing but open field in front of her. Agostinello then beat Cougar goalie Savanna Barron on the short side for her third goal of the season.
Before the end of the half, Anja Suttner tacked another point on the board for the Pride by burying her fourth goal of the year in the top left corner of the net off of a free kick.
Hofstra controlled the game in the first half outshooting Charleston 10-3 through 45 minutes of play. Although, in the second half, Hofstra continued to lead in shots, 18-3, but couldn’t find a way to put another goal past Barron in net.
“I don’t know if it was great saves or poor finishing,” Riddiough said. “It was probably a combination of both. Barron made two or three really good class saves. It really should’ve been four or five to nothing.”
Eventually, the Cougars cut into the Pride’s lead when Delaney Dawes headed in a cross that Mary Alexander sent into the goal box all the way from the corner. With the score still 2-1 late in the game, Charleston turned up the pressure and stretched Hofstra thin in their defsenive zone.
In the 88’ minute, Hofstra goalkeeper Skylar Kuzmich was caught out of position with the goal wide open behind her, and Dawes in the perfect spot to tie the game late with her second goal of the afternoon. Fortunately for the Pride, Suttner once again came up with a big play by blocking Dawes’s shot, as the Pride held on for the narrow victory.
“When it becomes frantic and erratic, we get angst,” said Riddiough. “Skylar has to come out stronger there. Thank the lord for Anja Suttner.”
Out in Suffolk County, there was another narrow win in the CAA as Stony Brook defeated UNC-Wilmington 3-2. The Pride will welcome their Long Island rivals next Sunday for the first time as conference foes in the regular season finale, in which the winner will claim the final of eight spots in the CAA tournament.
“Stony Brook is going to be ready for us, ” Riddiough said. “[Stony Brook head coach Tobias Bischoff] is my former assistant. He knows what I’m going to do, and I know what he’s going to do. It’s going to be a battle. We’re in a position to extend our season, so emotions will be high.”
Photo courtesy of Evan Bernstein
