The Hofstra women’s soccer team put on a dominant performance on Sunday, Sept. 1, when they defeated the Fordham University Rams by a score of 6-1 in their first home game of the season. 

Offensive star Lucy Porter led the Pride as she tied the program’s record for goals scored in a single game with four, a record set on Oct. 5, 1996, by Suzanne Newell. The six goals scored by the team was also the most since a 6-0 victory over Towson University on Sept. 20, 2018, a game in which Porter scored three goals, the most of any player on the Pride until Sunday’s matchup. 

The Pride’s offense worked to perfection throughout the contest, highlighted by unselfish play and a balanced attack, with 13 different players taking a staggering 25 shots total. Four of the Pride’s six goals were assisted on, as freshmen Anja Suttner and Cailey Welch both tallied the first assists of their collegiate careers. 

In addition to Porter’s four goals, Sabrina Bryan and Megan Fisher both scored, earning their second and first goals of the season respectively.

Hofstra’s defense proved stifling for Fordham, as the Rams were only able to get off three shots in the contest. Fordham’s lone goal was the only one that got around the defense; the team’s only shot on goal taken paled in comparison to Hofstra’s 13.

“(Defense) was what we talked about after the Brown game,” said head coach Simon Riddiough. “I thought we had a lot more impetus defensively today … The back four was fantastic today. Anja Suttner is a tremendous player; and she’s going to grow as the season goes along, and we can hopefully continue along that same vein.”

After Porter scored on a penalty kick in the 21st minute, she added another just four minutes later, heading in a cross from Miri Taylor. A goal from Bryan off Suttner’s cross gave Hofstra a 3-0 lead. Fordham’s Saige Bingman responded before the period came to a close, but another penalty kick from Porter made the score 4-1 heading into the second period. With that goal, Porter finished off a hat trick for just the second time in her career, and it was before the contest even reached halftime. 

The rout continued in the second period, as Porter tied the single-game scoring record with her fourth of the day. Fisher’s first goal of the season came at the 70-minute mark with an assist from Bryan, creating the 6-1 lead that would remain until the match’s conclusion.

Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics