HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — The Hofstra women’s soccer team will face No. 5 Elon University in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) semifinals after the Phoenix defeated No. 4 Northeastern University Huskies by a score of 2-1 at the Hofstra Soccer Stadium on Friday Nov. 1.
Elon freshman Jessica Carrieri scored the winning goal with 2:10 remaining in the game to send the Phoenix to their first ever CAA Semifinals, which will be played on Sunday, Nov. 3, against No. 1 Hofstra.
Elon came out of the gate quick to start the game and put a lot of pressure on the Huskies. They dominated in offensive possession, but struggled to get shots on goal. The Phoenix scored the first goal of the game at 6:35 when Hannah Doherty launched a free kick into the top right corner of the net. Huskies goalkeeper Megan Adams got a hand on the shot, but could not keep it out of the goal.
After the goal, the Northeastern offense came alive and put a lot of pressure on the Phoenix. Although they controlled the ball well in the attacking zone, Northeastern did not generate a shot on goal until 18:30 when Tatiana Ortega delivered a hard shot off the crossbar and out of play.
The Huskies had another chance to knot up the score late in the first half, but Elon goalkeeper Katrin Hauksdottir kept it a 1-0 game with a nice stop on a shot from Porter Dooley. Northeastern led Elon in shots, 7-6, and shots on goal, 3-2, but the Elon defense was strong and kept them off the board into halftime.
After the intermission, Northeastern continued to knock on the door with several great scoring opportunities. They’re best chance game when Kerri Zerfoss hit the crossbar with a header and then Dooley banked one off the post on the rebound.
The Huskies finally tied it at 62:56 thanks to Kayla McCauley’s third goal of the season. Chelsea Domond rocketed one that was punched up off the crossbar by Hauksdottir, but kicked in by McCauley on the rebound.
With 2:10 left to play, Carrieri put Elon back in front at 2-1 with her team-leading ninth goal of the season. Carson Jones sent a nice pass out in front of the net and Carrieri delivered it just over the reach of Adams and into the top left corner of the goal.
Coming off a season in which they went 3-10-4 and finished last in the CAA, Elon advances to their first CAA semifinal game one year later.
“I’m so pleased with the team and the players because they have worked so hard. We were in last a year ago and now we’ve reached the semifinals in the conference playoffs,” said Elon head coach Neil Payne.
Hauksdottir stepped up big in this one for the Phoenix and allowed only one goal on 10 shots on goal to lead the Elon to the next round.
“We had a game plan, we stuck to it, we were disciplined, we knew what to expect from Northeastern, and they were a good team,” Payne said. “We kept our shape, our discipline, and we defended really well.”
Hofstra and Elon will play on Sunday at 1 p.m. for a chance to play in the CAA Championship.
“We have a ton of respect for Simon [Riddiough] and his team and they’re deservedly a top 20 team right now,” Payne said. “The last time we were here, we didn’t give them a game, so now we’re going to give them a game.”
Photo Courtesy of Elon Athletics
