Charlottesville, Va. – Hofstra junior forward Leah Galton scored the tying goal early in the second half, but Makenzy Doniak's 58th-minute penalty kick goal broke the deadlock as Hofstra lost, 3-1, to second-ranked Virginia in the finale of the Virginia Nike Soccer Classic on Sunday at Klockner Stadium.
Hofstra earned a split in the tournament after defeating a Duke squad that was receiving votes in the latest NSCAA national poll. Virginia earned the second-highest ranking in that same poll and improved to 7-0. Hofstra is 4-3.
Sophomore goalkeeper Friederike Mehring tied a season-high with six saves, matching her total against Duke. Her efforts kept Hofstra tied until Doniak notched her fourth goal of the season off the spot kick with 33 minutes left. Danielle Colaprico added an insurance marker with 3:30 remaining to seal the victory. Hofstra is 0-2 against the Cavaliers in the all-time series.
Hofstra was playing the highest-ranked opponent in program history in going for the tournament title. Virginia had allowed just two goals through the season's first six games, which was a daunting figure for the Pride when Meghan Cox scored in the 10th minute off a corner kick.
Colaprico, who had a three-point day, picked up the assist along with Megan Reid as Cox scored within the six-yard box for her second goal of the season.Mehring made two saves in the half to keep the deficit at one heading into the half, which allowed Hofstra to tie the score early in the second period.
Galton, the CAA Preseason Player of the Year and MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List honoree, took senior forward Amber Stobbs' pass and fired a shot from the top of the box that hit the bottom of the crossbar and past the goal line for her fifth of the season. Her equalizer came in the 53rd minute.
Virginia, which made the 2013 NCAA Tournament's NCAA semifinals before losing in penalty kicks during a 24-1-1 showing last season, stormed back after allowing just the third goal in seven games. The Cavaliers scored less than five minutes later when Hofstra was whistled for a foul within the box and Doniak notched her fourth goal for the go-ahead marker.
Hofstra was out-shot in the second half, 15-6, but still stayed down just one until Colaprico one-timed Kaili Torres' 87th-minute pass to make it 3-1.
For the second straight game, Hofstra got a defensive save. Freshman Kristin Desmond was the hero on the back line in the win against Duke, and the Pride saw another defensive save in the 75th minute. Mehring made a save just 14 second s later on Colaprico's shot to stave off the onslaught.
Desmond, Galton and sophomore Jill Mulholland, who scored the game-winner against Duke, were named to the all-tournament team.
Hofstra will return home to face Yale on Friday at 7 p.m. from Hofstra Soccer Stadium.
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