Despite falling behind early in the game, the No. 11 Hofstra women’s soccer team used a second-half rally to take down the Dukes from James Madison University (JMU) on the road 2-1 on Sunday, Oct. 3. It took over an hour for Hofstra to find the back of the net, but both Miri Taylor and Ellen Halseth found the twine in the final third of the match to give Hofstra its second league win and 10th win overall.

Things did not start well for the Pride. The Dukes’ Aïmy Diop scored the first goal of the match in the final 10 minutes of the first half, which was also the first goal that the Pride had allowed since their 3-1 victory over the University of Pennsylvania nearly a month ago on Sunday, Sept. 5. Despite Hofstra having more shots on goal then the Dukes in the first half, the Pride was unable to get the ball behind Alexandra Bloom.

Hofstra finally broke through in the 61st minute when a beautifully place through ball by Lucy Porter was knocked home by Halseth to the left of the keeper to knot the game up at one a piece. As the Pride have done on so many occasions this season, it was a beautiful pass that led to the goal.

With just under 10 minutes to go in the game, Jordan Littleboy perfectly placed the ball into the box where the Pride’s leading goal scorer, Miri Taylor, knocked it into the net. Taylor’s goal was her 11th goal of the season, and her sixth in her last five games. 

Hofstra’s defense played its part in the final 10 minutes of the game, holding onto the lead, and by the time the final whistle was blown, Hofstra was once again victorious. Despite the early struggles, Hofstra was able to grab victory. The Pride totaled 15 shots in the match with 10 being on goal. JMU totaled seven shots with only two being on goal. Alexandra Blom recorded eight saves for Dukes while Hofstra keeper Skylar Kuzmich made one.

No. 11 Hofstra will now begin to prepare for two crucial Colonial Athletic Association games this week. Their first match will be at home this Thursday night, Oct. 7, with the Blue Hens from Delaware. On Sunday, Oct. 10, the Pride will travel to Wilmington, North Carolina, to take on the UNC-Wilmington. 

Photo Courtesy of Adam Flash/The Hofstra Chronicle