Hofstra field hockey ends season on two-game winning streak

BOSTON, MASS. — On a chilly afternoon, the Hofstra field hockey team finished their season strong with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Northeastern University Huskies on Sunday, Nov. 3.

The Pride received goals from three separate players, including two from Cami Larsson. Despite the offensive production, the Huskies got off to a hot start, putting some pressure on Hofstra early. They outshot the Pride 10-3 in the first half and earned the half's only penalty corner, which was unsuccessful. The Huskies got on the board first when freshman Alli Meehan scored her 11th goal of the season.

The Pride didn't let that deficit last for too long, as Mercedes Currie scored the equalizer two minutes later off of an assist from Larsson. The goal was the second of Currie's career and Larsson's third assist of the season.

Hofstra took the tie into the half and the score maintained until late in the third quarter. Merjlin Van Der Vegt stood strong in net, but after three shots in one possession, the Huskies went up 2-1.

The fourth quarter saw two ties and a lead change, starting with Madison Warfel scoring a goal with 10:44 remaining. She found the back of the net unassisted, tying the game with her eighth goal of the season. The goal cemented her breakout senior season, putting up six more goals and seven more assists than she did the year prior.

The Pride took the momentum from Warfel's goal in stride, taking the lead five minutes later on a penalty corner goal from Cami Larsson. The play, a give-and-go between Larsson and Djuna Slort, was a similar play that scored two goals a week earlier against the University of Delaware. The sophomore duo continued to improve this year, combining for eight goals and five assists in their last five games.

The Pride couldn't hold onto their lead for long, as Rowe put in another goal with five minutes left to tie it at three. With that, the game went to overtime.

The Pride quickly got to work in the extra frame. They earned two consecutive penalty corners just two minutes into the period. They missed out on the first one, as Slort got her shot blocked. But they came right back, with Frankie O'Brien and Warfel assisting on Larsson's second goal of the game, earning the Pride a win.

The Pride took control of penalty corners in the contest. For only the fifth time this season, the Pride took more penalty corners than their opponent, taking four as opposed to Northeastern's three.

This is an immense improvement from their last meeting with the Huskies, as they allowed 18 corners the previous year. All in all, the Pride's penalty corner defense improved significantly as they finish the season allowing 16 fewer penalty corners.

Van Der Vegt's seven saves brought her season total to 99, finishing her impressive freshman year second in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in saves.

Hofstra finished the first year of head coach Courtney Veinotte's tenure at 8-10, three wins more than the year prior. They ended the year on an impressive two-game win streak, equaling last year's CAA record of 2-4.

Image Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics