Hempstead, N.Y. -- Past success never guarantees anything for the future. But Hofstra is hoping a championship run last season will springboard a title defense as the Pride return 10 of 11 starters from a squad that captured the Colonial Athletic Association crown and the program's fourth-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Despite having just one senior in the starting lineup, a young squad spearheaded a gritty tournament run that included three successful efforts away from home. The best news for head coach Simon Riddiough is that 18 letter-winners are returning from the team that knocked off Northeastern and top-seeded William & Mary on the road in penalty kicks before outlasting UNC Wilmington, 2-1, in double overtime of the conference championship game.
Riddiough, who has never had a losing season in his first seven seasons on the job, will have all of Hofstra's top-10 scorers from 2012 coming back for the new campaign. What once were talented-but-unproven players are now playoff-tested veterans who guided the fifth-seeded Pride to a NCAA berth and an 11-9-2 record last season.
At forward, Hofstra returns CAA Rookie of the Year and conference preseason player of the year Leah Galton along with juniors Lulu Echeverry and Sam Scolarici. As underclassmen, the trio started 56 out of a possible combined 66 games and combined for 29 of Hofstra's 40 total goals.
A midfield outfit led by Tara Kerns, Chloe Dale and All-CAA first-team member Jill Mulholland could also have a familiar look. The Pride registered 31 more shots than the opposition last year, which should be a good sign as the unit is now more experienced entering 2013.
Hofstra out-scored opponents by a plus-8 differential thanks to a potent offense and a defensive unit that shut out six teams and allowed one goal or fewer in 12 games. The back line only loses Brooke Bendernagel, with Ruby Staplehurst, Caylin Dudley and Brittany Farriella all returning. In goal, senior Emily Morphitis is back after capturing Most Outstanding Player honors for her efforts in the CAA Championship.
“Our goal hasn't changed,” Riddiough said. “We expect to compete for the CAA championship and do everything in our power to improve every game.”
Here is a position-by-position look at the Hofstra Pride entering the 2013 season:
FORWARD
Galton frequently displayed her goal-scoring ability, notching three multi-goal games. But Galton's scoring prowess didn't prevent Riddiough from playing her all over the field to capitalize on matchups. The Harrogate, England, native saw frequent time at midfield and even provided one of the best Hofstra defensive efforts of the season when she moved to the back line and shut down CAA Player of the Year Mallory Schaffer in Hofstra's shootout win over William & Mary in the CAA semifinals. Her versatility didn't preclude Galton from finishing second in the CAA with 27 points including a team-leading 11 goals.
The NSCAA All-Region first-team member is a key part of the attack, but Scolarici and Echeverry will look to prevent defenses from keying on any one player. Scolarici will look to sustain her crunch-time success rate after scoring three game-winning goals, including the championship-winning strike that secured a NCAA Tournament appearance against Boston College. Echeverry, who had eight goals and five assists, expanded her role greatly from her first season and will now look to settle into a starting forward position after spending a sizable portion of 2012 as a midfielder.
Senior Amber Stobbs, who will be entering her senior season in 2013, played for the Washington Spirit Reserves this past summer and earned an all-star selection in the W-League. After having her season limited to 11 games because of injury, the London, England, native will look to have a healthy and productive season and build on a seven-point effort in her shortened campaign. A proven playmaker, Stobbs netted Hofstra's only multi-assist game last season when she compiled two assists in a win over Colgate. Freshman Maria Pettet will look to add depth after starring for Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn. Fellow freshman Danielle Lewis is also an option after playing four years of varsity soccer for Trion in Summerville, Ga.
MIDFIELD
A strength of 2012 should also be an asset this season. Mulholland earned a spot on the CAA All-Preseason team after earning an all first-team selection as a freshman. Now in her second season, the Levittown, N.Y., product tied Scolarici with three game-winning goals in a season that saw her net six goals and five assists as one of Hofstra's best two-way players.
Kerns transitioned from a defensive role to a dependable midfielder last season and started 14 of 17 games. As a true freshman, Dale made an impact from her first day and started all 22 games. A defensive-minded player, Dale contributed two assists and fired 12 shots in total.
Riddiough has familiar faces and newcomers who could also provide options for improving depth and resting the potential starters. Sophomore Jeannine Molleda played in all 22 games, making four starts as a freshman, and provided a bench boost with a goal and an assist. Nicki Choffel returns for a sixth season after having missed 2009 and 2010 in its entirety because of injuries.
Junior Erin Havard was credited with the decisive assist in the Opening Day victory over Ohio State and played in 11 games. She could see time at midfield as well as senior Kerry Cummings, who appeared in three contests. Sophomores Samantha Calvet and Laura Magistrali, and freshman Emily Agudelo could also be in the mix for playing time.
DEFENSE
The back line's starting unit should also be established early in camp. Staplehurst, a senior, will likely play another important role on set pieces. As one of Hofstra's top options on corner kicks, Staplehurst finished third in the CAA with six assists. Dudley started all 22 games last season and the junior is on track to return to a starting role once again. Farriella, who scored one goal last season, will look to provide another steady hand as a senior after starting 17 of 19 games in 2012.
Junior Ingrid Moyer has seen action up front but could earn time on defense with a strong camp showing. Moyer chipped in a goal and an assist last season. Sophomore Mallory Ullrich will also look to make an impression on her new team after transferring from UNC Greensboro.
Sophomore Lea Hinnen could fortify the defense and freshman Kristin Robeson could open some eyes as a full back.
GOALIE
Morphitis was Hofstra's bulwark against opposing threats with the netminder playing all but 4:57 to account for more than 99 percent of the team's minutes in goal. She recorded five individual shutouts and combined on another clean sheet versus Georgia State. But her best efforts came in the end with two outstanding shootout performances, including a key save in the penalty kick session after shutting out the top-seeded Tribe on its home field in Williamsburg, Va., in the semifinals for 110 minutes of a scoreless tie.
Morphitis made five saves in the CAA championship win, including three in the second half, to lock up the tournament's Most Outstanding Player honors. She compiled a .698 save percentage and a 1.39 goals against average. A pair of freshmen who could be the future of the position for the Pride will also look to turn some heads in camp. Friederike Mehring comes to Hempstead from Hannover, Germany, after having played for her domestic club team Frauen Bundesliga. Junior Melissa Kress will also help to shore up the position after a stellar high school career for Canandaigua Academy in upstate New York.
SCHEDULE
A matchup against College Cup finalist Penn State and a home game against Boston College in a NCAA Tournament rematch will highlight the non-conference slate. In CAA play, Hofstra will host UNC Wilmington, the College of Charleston, William & Mary and James Madison. The Pride will play league road games at Northeastern, Delaware, Drexel and Towson.
Hofstra will face a schedule in which the 17 opponents finished a combined 19 games over .500 (171-142-29) in 2012 and 11 teams were .500 or better. Riddiough guided Hofstra to a 7-1 home record last season and will look to sustain the success at Hofstra Soccer Stadium starting with the home opener on Aug. 30 against North Dakota State. It will be the program's first all-time meeting versus the Bison.
A three-game homestand will continue on Sept. 1 versus Boston College. The two teams met in the first round of last season's NCAA Tournament with the Eagles defeating the Pride, 2-0, in Chestnut Hill, Mass. The Pride will then play Marist on Sept. 6 before traveling to play Albany.
Hofstra will conclude the home non-conference schedule on Sept. 13 before playing St. Bonaventure and St. Joseph's in back-to-back road games. The Pride will then open league play against the Seahawks on Sept. 27 before facing the newest CAA-member in the College of Charleston two days later. That game will mark the first-ever league game of any Hofstra team against the Cougars.
The Pride will then play four consecutive road games – its entire slate of CAA away contests – starting on Oct. 5 against the Huskies. The game will bring Hofstra back to the site where it posted a late tying goal before advancing on penalty kicks in the CAA Quarterfinals. Hofstra will then play at Delaware, Drexel and Towson before ending the regular season with back-to-back home games against CAA regular-season champion William & Mary on Oct. 25 and James Madison on Oct. 27. The CAA Tournament is scheduled for Nov. 3-10 with the top overall seed hosting the semifinals and championship game.
