The Hofstra women’s soccer team continued their dominant start to the year with a 4-0 win over Yale University on Sunday, Sept. 12, at the Hofstra Soccer Stadium. The victory was Hofstra’s fourth in a row and improved their record to 7-1 this season.
Hofstra got on the board early after midfielder Amanda Ebbesson created a turnover at midfield and found forward Lucy Shepherd all alone along the sideline. Shepherd then made a swift head-fake to her left to get around Yale goalkeeper Maya Bellomo and fired the ball into the back of the net, giving the Pride a 1-0 lead with the lone goal of the first period.
Yale almost tied up the score heading into the break, but a questionable offsides call disallowed what would’ve been the tying goal and the Bulldogs’ only shot on goal for the afternoon.
The physicality of the match continued to increase from that point on, with both teams fighting to control the tempo entering the second half. Yale fought desperately not to let the game get out of hand, but Hofstra showed exactly why they’re ranked No. 25 in the country.
“I challenged the girls before the game to get back to making it difficult for teams to come to our place and win,” said Hofstra head coach Simon Riddiough. “And I think the girls responded very well.”
Miri Taylor continued her point streak, now at eight games, after scoring her seventh and eighth goals of the season. Taylor also added an assist for good measure as she delivered a corner kick to defensemen Anja Suttner who knocked it for her first goal of the season.
“It got a bit chippy out there,” Riddiough said. “You have to understand that Yale was probably frustrated with the way the game had gone, and we’re a big, strong, powerful team to play against. Ultimately, in the end it was a comfortable win.”
Goalkeepers Skylar Kuzmich and Avery Holden both had easy afternoons as neither faced a shot on goal the entire match, and they combined for Hofstra’s fifth shutout this season.
The Pride’s next match is on Thursday, Sept. 16, on the road against Princeton University where they hope for the return of midfielder Lucy Porter who has missed the last two games due to injury.
“We’re working through a couple of things,” Riddiough said. “We hope that she’s ready for Princeton, and if not, she’ll definitely be ready for Towson the following week.”
Even with one of their star player’s health in question, the depth of the Pride’s roster has elevated its play in Porter’s absence.
“Without Lucy, we obviously lose an edge [and] lose some experience,” Riddiough said. “We’re happy with the depth, we’re happy with the attitude of everybody. And to [win] comfortably 4-0 on a Sunday afternoon, after playing Friday, without one of your best players shows you that good things are going to be happening this year.”
Photo Courtesy of Jacob Lewis/The Hofstra Chronicle
