The Hofstra women’s soccer team now has a record of 5-1 for the year after a 3-1 victory against the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) at Hofstra Soccer Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 5. Junior Ellen Halseth netted the game-winning goal in the 57th minute, while Miri Taylor added insurance with her team-leading fifth goal in the 86th minute to secure the win. 

“It’s a really, really good win and I’m proud of the way the girls adjusted and battled in the tough conditions,” said Hofstra head coach Simon Riddiough.

After controlling most of the first half, Hofstra finally broke the ice at 25:11 with the game’s first goal. Georgia Brown took a cross sent over by Lucy Shepherd and headed it over the extending arms of Penn goalkeeper Laurence Gladu. 

18 minutes later, just before halftime, the Quakers knotted things up at one when Madison Liebman fired a shot just over a reaching Skylar Kuzmich and into the back of the net. The goal was her first of the season.

“I thought for 30 minutes we dominated that first half and really created a couple of good chances where it could have been three, maybe four-nothing,” Riddiough said. “And then that last 10 minutes, we kind of dropped off our intensity and our energy and we made a couple of mental mistakes from a few key players.”

The Pride came out of the break on a mission and dominated the shots 10-2 in the second half. Hofstra scored two straight goals to seal its fifth victory of the season and deliver Penn its first loss of 2021.

“At halftime it was just a matter of the wind being in our favor and knowing we’re going to win this game and get back to what we do well,” Riddiough said.

At 56:37, Halseth maneuvered her way through several Quaker defenders from the corner to the penalty area and sent a shot through traffic past Gladu. This put the Pride in front for good, and Taylor netted the finisher with under five minutes remaining in the game.

“[Halseth’s] Achilles’ heel is that she’s a little bit inconsistent. [Ginger Fontenot] is a very very good player and gave Halseth all she could handle in that first half,” Riddiough said. “But that second half, when we asked for something special from the team, Halseth stepped up and what a tremendous goal.”

Taylor’s goal put the finishing touches on a strong Pride performance, as they controlled most of the game offensively. Hofstra finished the game with 17 total shots with 10 on goal compared to Penn’s seven total with three on goal.

On the defensive side, Pride goalkeeper Skylar Kuzmich made two saves on her way to her fifth win of the season.

Hofstra will stay at home for its next game as it battles Bucknell University on Friday, Sept. 10 at 4 p.m.

Photo Courtesy of Jacob Lewis/The Hofstra Chronicle