Hofstra women's soccer beats UNCW 2-1 with late goal

On Sunday, Sept. 24, the Hofstra University women’s soccer team increased their unbeaten streak to seven in their 2-1 win over the UNC-Wilmington (UNCW) Seahawks in a Coastal Athletic Association matchup.

The Pride improve to 7-2-1 overall and 4-0-1 in conference play. UNCW dropped to 3-6-1 overall and 2-2-1 in conference play.

Seahawks midfielder Viktoria Hankova scored the opening goal with an assist from forward Issy Bryant in the ninth minute. Hankova received the ball from Bryant on the right of the box and got behind Hofstra’s defense to fire a right-footed shot in the net. UNCW took the 1-0 lead.

The Pride responded all the way in the 54th minute. After a foul on Hofstra, midfielder Aimee Hodgson stood over the free kick. She sent a right-footed curler into the box, where she found the head of midfielder Olivia Pearse, who redirected the ball into the back of the net for her second goal of the season.

Sophomore forward Mathilde Braithwaite scored the winning goal in the 83rd minute. Another sophomore forward, Thorhildur Thorhallsdottir, received the long ball and dribbled up the left flank before cutting toward the middle. Thorhallsdottir then played the ball across the box to a sprinting Braithwaite, who took one touch to put the ball in the back of the net for her first-ever goal.

Graduate goalie Skylar Kuzmich also recorded two back-to-back saves: one in the bottom center in a shot from forward Kayla Burroughs and the other from Kenady Adams where she shot towards the top left.

The Pride finished with eight total shots and three on goal, while UNCW had six total shots and five on goal.

Pearse and midfielder Dagny Run Petursdottir led the team in shots with two each.

Kuzmich made four saves for the Pride, and UNCW goalkeeper Hanna Wise made one save on the afternoon.

Both teams finished with three corner kicks.

The Pride returns home on Thursday, Sept. 28, to face the College of William & Mary Tribe at the Hofstra Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Alexis Friedman