Hempstead, NY –Hofstra freshmen Carissa Witmer and Stella Schoen scored goals but Maine sophomore Cassidy Svetek scored twice and junior Annabelle Hamilton added two assists to lead the Black Bears to a 5-2 victory over the Pride at the Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium Saturday afternoon. Maine improved to 1-3 on the season while the Pride slip to 1-3.

Witmer (Ephrata, PA) opened the scoring almost 10 minutes into the contest, deflecting a Schoen shot, off a penalty corner, past Maine goalkeeper Natasha Ford for a 1-0 advantage. It was Witmer's second goal of the year.

But the Black Bears scored three unanswered goals, including two in the first half, to open up a 3-1 lead early in the second half. Svetek tied the game almost three minutes later with her second tally of the season, from Holly Stewart. Sophomore Marissa Shaw gave Maine the lead with 9:24 to play in the half off a long pass from Hamilton gave her the opportunity to score her third of the season and give the Black Bears a 2-1 lead at halftime. Sophomore Nicole Sevey boosted the Maine lead to 3-1 8:38 into the second half with her first tally of the season from Hamilton.

Almost 11 minutes later, Schoen recorded her sixth goal of the year to cut the deficit to 3-2. Senior Stephanie Cowles (Solana Beach, CA) and sophomore Lauren de Valle (Exton, PA) assisted on the penalty corner goal.

But just four minutes later Svetek notched her second of the game, off a pass from junior Hannah Keating, to give the Black Bears a two goal cushion. Freshman Sydney Veljacic closed out the scoring with her first collegiate goal, from classmate Danielle Aviani, with 5:16 to play in the contest.

Maine outshot the Pride, 28-4, including 15-1 in the second half and had 10 penalty corners to Hofstra's three. Ford needed to make only two saves for the Black Bears while Hofstra senior goalkeeper Kaitlyn De Turo made a season-high 13 saves in the Pride net.

Hofstra will attempt to end their three-game losing slide on Sunday (Sept. 8) when they host the Pioneers of Sacred Heart at 3 p.m.