Hempstead, N.Y. – Fresh off a dramatic overtime victory in the last game, the Pride will look to build on a seven-game winning streak when Hofstra visits Northeastern for a Colonial Athletic Association road game Saturday at 6 p.m. from Parsons Field.
Hofstra (8-3, 2-0 CAA) has not lost since Sept. 1 and will face the Huskies (2-6-3, 2-0) for the first time since moving past Northeastern on penalty kicks in the CAA Tournament quarterfinals last season.
Hofstra is 10-6-2 in the all-time series, including a 0-1-1 record last year since shootouts are officially recorded as ties. The Pride lost to the Huskies in the 2012 regular season finale at home before advancing in the first round of the tournament in rainy and windy conditions at Parsons Field.
Northeastern struggled at the start of the season but has gotten hot at the right time with its first two wins of the campaign coming in conference play. The Huskies started 0-6-3 before defeating the College of Charleston in the league opener on Friday. After flying home, the Huskies then upended UNCW, 2-1, on Sunday. Northeastern is 1-2-2 at home.
The contest will start a four-game road swing for the Pride. Head coach Simon Riddiough's team has thrived away from home recently, shutting out the last three opponents in Albany, St. Bonaventure and Saint Joseph's. Hofstra has not allowed a road goal in the last 340:52 dating to the first half at then-No. 4 Penn State on Aug. 25.
Junior Sam Scolarici has put her name in the company of the best goal scorers nationally with 13 goals through the first 11 games. The Aldie, Va. native is tied with St. John's Rachel Daly for the most goals in Division I and is tied with four other player the national lead with 28 points. Scolarici is also second in goals-per-game (1.182) and points-per-game (2.55; tied with Penn State's Maya Hayes).
Scolarici picked up her second CAA Player of the Week award of the season when the league announced the winners on Monday. The matchup against the Huskies will pit her against NU freshman forward Haley Sinclair, who was named the league's Rookie of the Week after she assisted in a victory against CofC and scored a goal in a win over UNC Wilmington.
Scolarici is coming off her first career hat trick in an overtime win over the College of Charleston, which marked Hofstra's first three-goal game since Laura Greene's effort in 2011. But Scolarici hasn't been the only offense threat. Conference preseason Player of the Year Leah Galton has five goals and a team-leading eight assists and her constant ability to draw double teams has opened the field for other forwards to thrive.
Sophomore Jeannine Molleda is coming off a two-assist game against CofC and has thrived with fellow sophomore Jill Mulholland out of the lineup due to injury. Molleda already has set career highs with four goals and four assists.
A defensive line led by seniors Ruby Staplehurst, Brittany Farriella, Tara Kerns and Caylin Dudley have helped Hofstra out-shoot opponents, 176-101. Sophomore transfer Mallory Ullrich has also seen an increase in playing time with Ingrid Moyer out with an injury as well.
