The Hofstra University field hockey team edged out Rider University 3-2 in a shootout on Friday, Sept. 5, at Cindy Lewis Stadium. With the win, the Pride moved to a winning record of 2-1 on the season. Rider suffered their first setback of the year and dropped to 1-1.
“They persevered,” said Hofstra head coach Hillary Fitts. “They were the definition of grit. They deserved to win. It was nice to see them celebrate as much as they did.”
Rider scored their goals in the first and second quarter, while Hofstra fought for one in the second and the equalizer in the third. The Pride and Broncos played 20 minutes of scoreless overtime before Hofstra bested Rider 4-3 in the five-round shootout.
Rider jumped to an early advantage, netting their first goal less than five minutes in, then they struck again early in the second quarter. Both Bronco’s goals came on penalty corners.
Teresa Karoff got Hofstra on the board about halfway through the second quarter. Karoff’s goal came off a penalty corner that she inserted herself. On the insert, she passed to Gwenn Van Dijk who took a straight shot on net. Karoff drove towards the net and tipped Van Dijk’s shot over Rider’s keeper, Jade Regnart.
At that point in the game, Rider had outgained Hofstra in corners 4-2. With renewed life, the Pride took command, gaining the next four penalty corners and outshooting Rider 5-0 in the third quarter.
Regnart kept the game tied through the Hofstra barrage. In the fourth quarter, Van Dijk nearly found the back of the net on a shot from point blank but was denied.
With time dwindling in the fourth quarter, Pilar Penaloza drew a penalty corner for Hofstra. Jaime Lewis inserted from the 10-yard line to Jamie McMillan who fired a rocket on net. Lewis tipped McMillan’s shot into the net, tying the game for Hofstra. The goal was Lewis’ first since a two-goal performance against Towson University last October.
Time in regulation expired, which pushed the game to overtime. As the teams played longer, the referees handed out more cards. Hofstra and Rider had a combined 12 cards, including eight yellow cards.
Both teams had grade-A opportunities to end the game after regulation. Hofstra’s best chance came on two different penalty stroke attempts taken by Karoff, both gained because of fouls on Rider. Both of Karoff’s attempts entered the net but were called back by the referee because Karoff had too much windup to her shot.
Rider’s best chance of overtime came on a player up counterattack. Rider had a 2-1 opportunity when Ang Borisow took a deadly point blank shot on Hofstra’s goaltender Luci Hollister. The ball went over the freshman netminder’s head, but she made a miraculous save by directing the ball off the shaft of her stick while it was above her head.
Hofstra ended both overtime frames with seven shots on goal while Rider had six.
In the shootout, Rider was awarded the first shot. Hollister made saves in round one and three, while Karoff, McMillan and Van Dijk scored three of Hofstra’s first four attempts.
Being down one in the shootout, the top of the fifth round is a must have for the Broncos. Rider selected senior attacker Megan Normile to be their fifth shooter after she broke the ice scoring early in the first quarter.
Normile moved in from right to left on top of the goal mouth. Hollister tracked Normile’s movements and stayed with her until Normile took a backhand shot. Fresh off her CAA Rookie Of The Week honors, Hollister easily steered the shot away and led the Pride to their second victory of the season.
Hofstra improved to 2-1 on the season and looked to capitalize on their moment when they traveled to play Bryant University on Sunday, Sept 7. Game time was set for noon.
