The Hofstra Pride women’s soccer team fell to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington Seahawks 4-1 this past Saturday.
The match marked the last away game in CAA play and the fourth consecutive loss for Hofstra.
The Seahawks exploded from the start, with Kennedy Ulrich earning the first goal of the match only two minutes into play.
Senior Jill Mulholland took shots for the Pride attempting to close the deficit, but was not successful in getting any on goal.
Around the 20th minute, another goal landed for UNCW, this time from Brittany Cline, which stretched the Seahawks’ lead to 2-0.
In the 25th minute, the Pride earned a penalty kick from an illegal UNCW tackle.
Junior Kristin Desmond sent the ball in to put Hofstra on the board, 2-1.
UNCW responded quickly to regain its two-goal lead, sending the ball over Pride goalkeeper Ashley Wilson and into the net.
The Seahawks kept their 3-1 lead going into halftime.
The start of the second half showed promise for the Pride.
Emily Agudelo and Mulholland each took a shot, and Friederike Mehring prevented another goal for UNCW just two minutes in.
But, the Seahawks managed to get another goal from a penalty kick – earning UNCW its fourth and final goal of the match in the 62nd minute.
Despite the three-goal deficit, the Pride did not back down and attempted to get some more goals on the board.
Brianna Doran and Desmond turned up the heat on UNCW goalkeeper Liisa Rahkola, taking three shots all within the 85th minute.
Rahkola, however, did not allow any shots to get past her.
Mehring stopped one more goal with 20 seconds remaining in play.
With this loss, the Pride is now 6-6-1 overall and 0-4 in CAA play.
UNCW advances to 7-3-2 overall and 1-1-1 in the CAA.
The Seahawks only outshot the Pride 13-12 and each team got six on goal.
But, UNCW ended up being more successful stopping the ball.
Rahkola racked up five saves, while the Pride only had two from Mehring.
Mulholland led the team in shots, totaling six this match.
Desmond, Agudelo and Doran took the remaining shots, having three, two and one respectively.
Mehring’s two saves brings her total to 41 thus far in the season.
Hofstra hits the pitch again at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, to take on Elon University at home.
The Phoenix come into Friday’s contest sporting a record of 7-5-1, including a 2-1-0 record in CAA play.
The Phoenix has won five of its last six contests, with the lone loss coming against James Madison University last Sunday.
Last time out, Elon shut out the College of William & Mary by a 3-0 score.