By Amanda Brody
Field hockey goalkeeper Jessica Cowperthwait was her usual strong self as she helped Hofstra’s defense dominate by completing two shut outs in a row last week.
Before a weekend home match against Towson, Hofstra faced a non-conference game at Columbia University on Oct. 4. With the help of Cowperthwait’s five saves and Charlia Warner’s two goals, the Pride was able to shut out the Lions, 3-0.
Then, it was deja vu all over again on Sunday afternoon at Shuart Stadium, where Hofstra shut out Towson, 3-0.
In the first, the game seemed to be highly defensive, with each team battling in goal territory, without any scoring. The first goal came 13 minutes into the game by Pemba Ramdoo with an assist from Doni-Melissa Jantzen.
“It’s always good when we can score early and get on top in the first, it helps you to maintain the pressure and it’s easier when you play on top,” Ramdoo said.
Hofstra took a total of nine shots in the first, but Towson’s defense was very aggressive and the Pride was not able to execute its up tempo game strategy.
“It was more like a blood bath in the first half, I felt like we were playing a little tennis match back and forth,” head coach Kathy DeAngelis said.
In the second half, the Pride started out in customary fashion, scoring only two minutes in. Following a penalty corner, Warner, the reigning CAA Player of the Week, came up big again on a goal assisted by Kara McEneaney. Twelve minutes later, Jantzen tallied her team leading sixth assist of the season, allowing McEneaney to score and secure the Hofstra win. The victory was the Pride’s fourth straight, a season high.
Hofstra out shot Towson 19-7, the most shots since a 3-1 win over Maine on Sept. 8. Cowperthwait proved to be the backbone of the team, with five saves against Towson and is now ranked in the top three in the CAA in saves (69).
“Her steadiness and her state of readiness the entire game from the minute she stepped on the field was at such a high level and she can lead by example, which will help the rest of the team get into a state of readiness,” DeAngelis said.
Towson goalie Christina Armer had six saves against Hofstra and leads the CAA with 100 saves on the season.
A compiled team effort really helped advance Hofstra to its fourth win in a row.
“I think we have a really strong team, we’ve been playing together for awhile now and everything’s really starting to click for us,” McEneaney said.
Hofstra is now faced with the daunting task of a three-game road trip at Princeton, Old Dominion and William & Mary. While Hofstra’s record at home remains undefeated (5-0), the Pride has struggled a bit on the road (3-4). Since the field hockey season is gradually coming to a close, it is very important that the team focuses on winning each game.
“Every one of these games from here on out are almost in that must win situation,” DeAngelis said. “We’re playing to win not to lose and if we can keep that intensity going, we’ll be excited to continue on to the CAA.”
No game can be overlooked, as Warner’s motto for the season sums it up, “Any given team, any given day.”