Hempstead, N.Y. – Hofstra scored three unanswered goals in the final 15:11 to break a deadlock and propel the Pride to a 6-3 non-conference victory over Rider at the Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium Sunday afternoon.
Sophomore
Stella Schoen scored two goals and tallied an assist while fellow sophomore
Claudia Marin Samper also posted a multi-point game with a goal and an assist as Hofstra improved to 10-5. Rider fell to 8-5 Hofstra extended its winning streak to three and is 3-1 at home this season.
Sophomore
Carissa Witmer's first goal of the season proved to be the game winner with her unassisted tally at 54:49 giving the Pride a 4-3 lead. Witmer's strong individual effort allowed her to surge past two defenders and beat goalkeeper Joelle Prettyman (who finished with one save).
Schoen added an insurance goal at 62:31 when she converted Marin Samper's centering pass for her second goal of the game. Schoen, who missed seven games with an injury, entered the contest with two goals in seven games this season but doubled that total against Rider.
After setting up her teammate's goal, Marin-Samper scored one herself just 58 seconds later when she collected sophomore
Emily Gallagher's pass and buried a backhand. Her reverse-chip put the Pride ahead, 6-3, with 6:31 remaining to secure the lead.
Hofstra freshman goalkeeper
Carys Swan made two saves, with both stops coming in the second half. The Pride supported the netminder with a 22-6 advantage in shots.
The Pride surged to a 3-0 lead through the first 26:02 thanks to goals from senior
Jonel Boileau, Schoen and junior
Charlotte Loehr. Boileau opened the scoring just 1:46 in when she tipped in sophomore
Colby Hussong's shot. Boileau out-shot the entire Rider team by recording seven shots compared to six for the Broncs.
Schoen linked with sister
Simca Schoen for Hofstra's second goal at 19:36.
Stella Schoen then assisted on Loehr's goal at 26:02 for the three-goal edge. Rider responded with three goals in a 13:55 span. Laura McCormick assisted on goals from both Shannon Hughes and Allison Baligian. Carlie Spaeder pulled Rider into a three-all tie at 44:21, which is where the teams remained until Hofstra pulled away.
The game was an emotional one for the Pride with Hofstra sponsoring Hodgkin's Lymphoma Awareness Day in honor of Pride field hockey alumnus and 2013 graduate Jillian Geysen. A crowd of 229 was on hand as Geysen was recognized before the game and served as Hofstra's honorary coach. T-shirts and bracelets were sold as a fundraiser with all proceeds going to the Geysen family to help defray the cost of medical treatment.
Hofstra will return to Colonial Athletic Association play on Friday with a 6 p.m. road game at Towson.
