By Stacy Troiano
The 2007 season began all the way back in November of last year for the women’s soccer team. After a disappointing 2006 season in which the Pride, plagued by injuries, finished 9-8-2 and missed the CAA tournament, the players have certainly began their quest for redemption in 2007. Hofstra defeated Wyoming 3-0 on Sunday at the James Madison/Comfort Inn Invitational, bringing its record to 4-0 on the young season, matching the second best start in program history, while Wyoming fell to 1-2.
The last time the Pride got off to a 4-0 start was in 2003, and that team went on to win the regular season CAA championship. The best record in program history belongs to the 1994 team, which started 8-0 en route to a 16-2-1 record overall.
On Sunday, the Pride, led by senior forward Brooke DeRosa, proved Wyoming to be no match early on. DeRosa struck first, less than nine minutes into the game on a ball from junior midfielder Edel Malone. Minutes later DeRosa netted her second goal on an assist from sophomore forward Jill Lipari to put the Pride comfortably ahead 2-0 at the 21:38 mark.
The game was DeRosa’s second two-goal game of the year, as she also scored twice in her Hofstra debut against Cornell back on Aug. 31, her first collegiate game in almost three years. DeRosa played for Syracuse from 2002-2004 before an injury took her out in 2005, and then personal reasons led her to leave school. She now has four goals and three assists in her first season on the Hofstra roster.
The score remained 2-0 at the midway point, but just over six minutes into the second half, Malone found the net herself on an unassisted header past Wyoming goalie Ashley Sheppard to put the Pride up for good at 3-0.
The goal was Malone’s second of the season, a good sign for the Pride as she is returning from a knee injury that kept her out of the entire 2006 season. In her rookie season in 2005, Malone scored eight goals and added five assists on her way to becoming CAA Rookie of the Year.
Junior goalie Krystal Robens and the Hofstra defense held Wyoming to just three shots in the first half and 11 in the game. Robens made three saves in her first shutout of the season and the second in her career. The strong Pride defense has not allowed more than one goal in a game so far this year.
Second-year head coach Simon Riddiough was happy with his team’s performance on Sunday and impressed with their effort so far this year.
“We got a good scouting report on Friday watching [Wyoming] versus James Madison, and we got to see what worked and what didn’t work against them,” Riddiough said. “It was one of those games where everything just fit into place.”
“The most impressive part is that we just keep getting better and better with every game,” he said. “This team’s got a tremendous amount of coachability. They’re just willing to listen and do what it takes to win, and at times that isn’t always the case, so I’m just amazed with this team and that desire.”
The Pride also won its first game of the invitational on Friday, downing Richmond 2-1. Sophomore defender Jess Crankshaw struck first on a corner kick that deflected into the goal to put the Pride up 1-0. Sophomore midfielder Diane Caldwell tacked on the eventual game winner 8:30 into the second half, putting her own rebound past Richmond goalie Kate Hudson.
In Hofstra’s four games this season, eight different players have scored goals, exhibiting the Pride’s depth and weapons at every position. Riddiough said the different scoring threats and team chemistry can be attributed to the unique blend of people on the team.
“We have an experienced team coming back, and we’ve plugged in five to six new players,” he said. “The freshmen bring enthusiasm, and we have an older transfer student [DeRosa] who brings a lot of leadership, so it’s a nice blend at the moment. Plus, as with anything, team chemistry is best when you’re winning games.”
The Pride look to continue their winning ways with two home games against non-conference opponents this weekend. They take on Columbia on Friday at 5:30 p.m., and Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday at 4 p.m. Hofstra’s first conference game is set for Sept. 28 against Towson.
One of the Pride’s lone healthy stars during the 2006 season, Sue Weber is now joined by scoring threat Brooke DeRosa and former CAA Rookie of the Year Edel Malone. (Athletic Department)