By Jeffrey Werner -- STAFF WRITER
The Hofstra Pride field hockey team defeated the Drexel Dragons 3-2 in overtime to clinch their spot in the CAA tournament. Stella and Simca Schoen scored the three goals for Hofstra. Head coach Kathy De Angelis couldn’t have been more proud of her team’s effort.
“It was an amazing game,” said De Angelis. “It was a well-earned win. I felt our transition and relentless attitude was so great today and that’s what kept us in the game.”
Before the game began, the Pride honored their seniors who were playing their final regular-season game at Hofstra. Forward Lauren del Valle, midfielder Charlotte Loehr and defender Leigh Maxwell-Smith were honored with flowers and plaques commemorating them for their dedication to the field hockey team.
“These are three very special seniors,” coach De Angelis explained. “We wanted [to win] for them because they worked so hard over their years to get this team to the tournament. I thought all of them did an amazing job.”
With the pre-game festivities out of the way, the Pride was ready to take on the Dragons. The Dragons nearly took an early 1-0 lead, but the goal was called back, so the game remained tied at zero.
The Pride took advantage of the referee’s call with a goal from Stella Schoen a little over 14 minutes into the first half to take a 1-0 lead. Stella scored again with four minutes to go in the first half to give Hofstra a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.
“It was great to see really perfect execution by Stella on her shots. They were right on,” De Angelis said.
But Drexel wasn’t about to let Hofstra go on cruise control for the rest of the game. Just four minutes into the second half, the Dragons cut the Pride’s lead in half thanks to a penalty stroke. Drexel tied the game up at 2-2 when Allison McCardell’s shot off a penalty corner was deflected and passed the goalie pads of Lauren Saltus. The Pride attempted to gain the lead back, but a strong Drexel defense forced an overtime.
Hofstra wasted no time going on the offensive and was awarded a penalty corner. Claudia Marin Samper passed the ball to Loehr, who in turn passed it to Simca Schoen. Simca fired the ball past the goalie and the entire team crowded around her, celebrating the 3-2 win that got them into the CAA tournament.
Hofstra’s regular-season play is not finished yet, however. The Pride will go to Virginia for the final two games of the season. The first game will be in Williamsburg where the Pride will face off against the William & Mary Tribe on Friday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m.
Then, the Pride will wrap up their season with a game in Harrisonburg against the Dukes of James Madison University on Sunday, Nov. 1 at noon.