By Jordan Sawyer -- SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
The Hofstra Pride field hockey team lit up the scoreboard in a 4-1 win over the Sacred Heart Pioneers Sunday afternoon at Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium.
Coming into the game, both teams were looking to avoid falling victim to a 3-game losing streak.
A defensive skirmish early on, the Pioneers were able to take five shots (four on goal), all saved by keeper Carys Swan within the opening 13 minutes. However, Hofstra was able to overcome sloppy passing and draw first blood.
The first penalty corner of the game for Hofstra led to a shot for Madison Warfel, but was blocked by Allie Brouhard on a defensive save. The deflection led to an opportunity for Madison Suave who was able to put the ball underneath the crease between the legs of Sacred Heart's goalie and into the net for the first goal of the game. Freshman Philine de Wolf remains on fire, picking up the assist on the play. Entering play, Hofstra had won every game in which Suave had scored in.
Playing with momentum on their side, the Pride were able to rid the Pioneers’ pesky defense and find the back of the net for a second time in the first half. Another penalty corner lead to a successful possession for the Pride, as defender Frankie O’Brien found fellow freshman Jordan Thompson in front of the net.
“Having the opportunity of some of these young guys who can put it behind the net is going to make us more threatening,” Hofstra head coach Kathy De Angelis said.
Thompson was able to deflect O’Brien’s pass past Degenarro for her first collegiate goal of her career. Coming off her assist, O’Brien would add to her scoring with a goal of her own 10 minutes later. Hofstra connected on their third unanswered goal via penalty strike by O’Brien, her second penalty strike of the season.
Trailing by three goals with 41 seconds left to play in the first half, Sacred Heart was able to cut the deficit down to two before halftime. Swan’s stellar play in the first half (seven saves on seven shots on goal) led to a penalty strike for Sacred Heart standout Nichole Tolli. Swan came out of the net, sliding to get the ball as Tolli was also racing for it, leading to a penalty strike resulting in Sacred Heart’s lone goal of the game.
In a defensive driven second half, both team’s defenders began to run to the ball. The pressure led to only one goal in the half, as freshman Taylor Casamassa swatted the ball out in front of the net and into the back of the net for a score. Joining Thompson, Casamassa’s goal was the first of her collegiate career, giving Hofstra added insurance. Swan would finish the second half with five more saves, giving her a game total of 12, matching her season high.
“Having the opportunity of some of these young guys who can put it behind the net is going to make us more threatening,” Hofstra head coach Kathy De Angelis said.
The Pride returns to action September 19 at home against Rider University for a 3:30 p.m. start.