By Kyle Kandetzki - SPORTS EDITOR
Most of the talk going into Friday’s home opener was about the Columbia Lions’ stout defense, but the Pride paid no mind to that.
The Hofstra Women’s Soccer team earned their first win of 2015 by defeating the Ivy’s Lions 2-0, in a game that saw the Pride attack a defense that only surrendered eleven goals last season. Leah Galton tacked on her second goal of the season, while Katie Gerdes added a surprising insurance goal late.
“We’ve still got things to work on,” said head coach Simon Riddiough. “But for our first home game, I’m pretty happy with how we played.”
The first half of home soccer this year featured no scores from either side, though it was clear the Pride was primed to breakthrough, outshooting the Lions 8-2. Emily Agudelo made her bid for being a supplementing offensive weapon to Galton, shooting five times, though never scoring.
“She’s got to get back into the rhythm,” said Riddiough. “She’s getting chances offensively, but defensively she needs to tighten it up.”
But her passing did make an impact early in the second.
Just over one minute into the second half, Agudelo delivered a cross into the box for Galton to head in and give Hofstra the advantage. It was Emily’s third career assist and put Galton up to 92 career points.
The Pride continued their pressure on the Columbia net throughout the second, adding fourteen more chances in the latter half. Jill Mulholland added five shots while Kristin Desmond took two, but it only took one from a substitute to pad the lead.
Katie Gerdes’ only shot of the evening came off a rebound in the 78th minute that she booted back into the net, assisted by Desmond and freshman Madeline Anderson. The score was the first by either of the twins (Katie and Kelly) from Wantagh.
The defense held stout yet again, earning GK Friederike Mehring her first clean sheet of 2015, making four saves along the way. Mallory Ullrich and Rhian Cleverly lead the line, but Anderson has fit right into the defensive scheme so far.
Columbia still made twelve shooting attempts, but only four came on goal.