A 76th minute goal by the Elon University women’s soccer team in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) semifinals sent them past the top-seeded Hofstra Pride and into their first ever CAA championship match. Thursday’s final score of 1-0 from Towson, Maryland ends Hofstra’s eight-match undefeated season and three-year reign as defending conference champions. The Pride fall to 7-1-1, picking up their first loss of the season, while Elon improves to 5-3 overall.
On the campus of Towson University, Hofstra led 16-6 in shots, 8-2 on target, but struggled to convert any of them. The Pride saw the first chance of the match just a minute and a half in with a corner kick by senior Sabrina Bryan and a shot by classmate Lucy Shepherd. The Pride returned to the corners for three more kicks throughout the first half, but all were unsuccessful.
2020 All-CAA Second Team member Shepherd recorded two more attempts at goal in the first 45 minutes as Miri Taylor and Amanda Ebbesson each gave it a go as well. Elon shot twice in the first period, once each by Beky Myers and Lily Harkes, before heading into halftime knotted at 0-0.
Hungry for a goal, 2020 Attacking Player of the Year Bryan came out early in the second half and attempted two shots just a minute into play as the back-and-forth battle continued and the scoreboard remained empty.
In the 70th minute, freshman midfielder Claire Broderdop had a close chance for the Phoenix as her shot hit the crossbar. Just six minutes later, Myers hit the crossbar again but this time Broderdop avenged her earlier miss, grabbing the rebound and slotting the ball past Pride keeper Skylar Kuzmich for her first goal of the season.
With 20 minutes left to play and down a goal, the Pride desperately fought for opportunities. In the 82nd minute, Hofstra came close with two shots, one each by this season’s Defensive Player of the Year sophomore Anja Suttner and Bryan, as well as a corner kick taken by All-CAA First Team selection Taylor.
Hofstra sophomore Marlene Fries had the final say of the game, shooting with just 30 seconds remaining, but it went wide to the right and allowed the score to remain as is, 1-0. With the rest of the team running excitedly onto the field as the final whistle blew, Elon made history advancing to the program’s first ever CAA championship.
In net, Kuzmich recorded one save for the Pride while Phoenix goalkeeper McKenna Dalfonso had seven through the full 90 minutes. One booking was made throughout the match as the Pride’s Louise Hayden saw a yellow card in the 76th minute.
The CAA crowned a new champion for the first time in three years, as Elon advanced to the final match on Saturday, April 17 where they defeated UNC-Wilmington for the conference’s top prize. The Pride will wait until Monday, April 19 for the NCAA Division I women’s soccer selection show to see if they’re lacing up their boots once more this season in the national tournament.
Photo Courtesy of Adam Flash/The Hofstra Chronicle
