Hempstead, N.Y. – Junior Sam Scolarici continued her torrid start with a goal and an assist and sophomore Leah Galton posted two assists to help Hofstra defeat Marist, 3-0, on Friday night at Hofstra Soccer Stadium.
Sophomore Jeannine Molleda scored for the second straight game to help Hofstra improve to 2-3. Scolarici registered her team-leading fifth goal in five contests and junior Lulu Echeverry provided a key insurance marker to drop Marist to 2-2.
Senior Emily Morphitis made two saves as Hofstra held the Red Foxes to just six total shots. Hofstra has scored 11 goals in three game home games this year and has not scored fewer than three goals in any contest on its home turf.
Morphitis recorded her 10th career shutout and her first clean sheet of the season. Hofstra supported her with early support, starting on Scolarici's opening strike in the 30th minute. Senior Amber Stobbs sent in a low cross from the right side that Scolarici buried near the left post. Scolarici also recorded five goals through the first five games of the 2012 season and is on a similar pace this year.
Hofstra out-shot Marist, 7-2, in the first half to take the one-goal edge into the locker room. Molleda then provided a cushion with a 65th-minute goal. Scolarici and Galton assisted on the playing, giving Scolarici a three-point night.
Galton also finished with a multi-point game when she assisted on Echeverry's goal at 84:33. Echeverry, an East Meadow product, headed in Galton's cross just under the crossbar for her first goal of the season.
Morphitis registered her first shutout since the 2012 CAA Championship semifinal against top-seeded William & Mary. Marist's Danielle Glazer had one of the best chances to tie it for the Red Foxes when her shot in the 79th minute sailed just wide-right of the post.
Hofstra improved to 7-2 in the all-time series against Marist. The Pride has won four of the last five games against the Red Foxes.
Home has been a comfortable place for Hofstra's offense. The Pride scored three goals in a win over North Dakota State before erupting for five in a 6-5 overtime loss to Boston College.
Scolarici has 20 career goals, which moved her past Chrissy Arnone's 19 for ninth on the program's all-time list.
Hofstra will next be in action on the road at Albany on Sunday at 3 p.m.
