Albany, N.Y. – Junior Sam Scolarici ignited a Hofstra offensive onslaught with a five-point game and was one of five Hofstra players to score goals in the Pride's 6-0 win over Albany on Sunday afternoon at Plumeri Sports Complex.
Sophomore Leah Galton finished with a goal and an assist while senior Ruby Staplehurst, sophomore Jeannine Molleda and junior Caylin Dudley all found the net for Hofstra. The Pride built a 23-9 shot advantage in winning for the second straight time and improving to .500 (3-3). Senior Emily Morphitis and freshman Friederike Mehring combined for four saves in the shutout, dropping Albany to 1-4.
Hofstra shut out an opponent for the second straight game and has out-scored teams, 9-0, on the week after besting Marist, 3-0, at home on Friday.
Scolarici continued her blazing-hot start to the season, scoring her team-leading sixth and seventh goals. The Aldie, Va. native entered 2013 with 15 career goals and is almost halfway to that mark with 11 regular season games remaining.
Galton and Scolarici teamed for Hofstra's first goal 10:18 into the contest. Scolarici sent a cross to the box's left side and Galton buried the opportunity for her sixth goal. Galton, who was named the Colonial Athletic Association's Preseason Player of the Year, has at least one point in every game and has 10 in her last three contests. Galton, a NSCAA all-region selection in 2012 as well as the CAA's Rookie of the Year, had two assists in the Marist win and tallied two goals and an assist against Boston College last week.
Hofstra built a two-goal edge just 1:58 later when the duo reversed roles. Galton was the one who fed Scolarici this time, setting her teammate up near the goal box. Hofstra took the 2-0 lead into halftime as Morphitis capitalized on the goal support and made three saves. The Pride also played well in front of her, making a defensive save to keep the Great Danes off the scoreboard.
Staplehurst provided an insurance goal in the 50th minute off an athletic play. As one of Hofstra's primary threats on set pieces, the defender took a corner kick and sent a spiral into the net's upper-right corner. Staplehurst has two goals this season.
Dudley added another goal off a set piece, scoring off a free kick in the 58th minute. That marked Dudley's fifth career goal and her first scoring strike since Oct. 2, 2011 against Delaware.
Molleda picked up three points in less than four minutes. She set up Scolarici's multi-goal game at 70:29, initiating her breakaway attempt. Scolarici scored from the right side to make it 5-0.
In the 74th minute, Molleda scored off a rebound goal following a corner kick for the final margin. Molleda has three goals in the last four games.
Hofstra will return home on Friday when the Pride hosts Monmouth at 7 p.m.
