The Hofstra women’s soccer team captured their second consecutive Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship on Saturday, Nov. 3, when they defeated the James Madison Dukes on the road by a score of 2-0. The title marks the fifth-ever championship victory for Hofstra University.
The Pride’s biggest offensive weapons, stars Sabrina Bryan and Lucy Porter, shone in the title match just as they had all season long. Porter struck first, scoring off of a blocked free kick from Miri Taylor in the 14th minute. This marked Lucy Porter’s 10th goal of her outstanding sophomore season.
The next and final goal of the contest came 11 minutes into the second half, when Jenn Buoncore’s missed shot was recovered by Bryan, who buried it in the back of the net for her 11th goal and Buoncore’s 13th assist of the season.
The aforementioned shots taken by the Pride contributed to their total of 12 taken in the match, six of which were on goal. The team shared the load well, distributing the 12 shots taken between six players. Bryan led the way with four shots, while Taylor, Porter and Buoncore all took two. Jordan Littleboy and Bella Richards added one each as well.
The Tigers took nine shots of their own, but Hofstra’s excellent defense, led by two-time CAA defensive player of the year Madeline Anderson, limited them to only two on goal.
“We played a high-risk, high-reward system today and gambled a little bit,” said Hofstra head coach Simon Riddiough. “We put a lot of pressure on our back four to handle some very dangerous offensive weapons and they handled it.”
The Pride split the playing time for goalkeepers Ashley Wilson and Jenna Borresen as they have often done in the season. Wilson, a redshirt senior, finished the contest with two crucial saves as the defense shut out the Tigers.
“We definitely knew that we could repeat, it just took everyone on the field and on the sideline,” Taylor, who took two shots on the afternoon, said. “As long as everyone gave 110 percent, we knew we could do it. We had a lot of faith, and we just wanted it.”
In addition to becoming repeat conference champions with the win, the Pride clinched their spot in the NCAA tournament. After being knocked out in the first round of the tournament last year, hopes are high for the team’s prospects in 2018.
“These past nine games, we’ve played the way I want us to play, and when we do that, we’re […] difficult to beat,” Riddiough said. “We hope we’ll get a favorable draw and get to that second round.”
On Nov. 5, Hofstra was selected to face #19 Boston College in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. That match will take place on Fri. Nov. 9 at 7 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Cam Keough
