Hempstead, N.Y. – Hofstra will open the home portion of the Colonial Athletic Association schedule when the Pride hosts James Madison on Friday at 7 p.m. and will welcome Towson for a 1 p.m. Sunday matchup at Hofstra Soccer Stadium.
Both games will feature free live audio and live statistics. To purchase tickets, please call the Hofstra Athletics Ticket Office at (516) HOF-TIXX.
The Pride is 6-5 overall and 1-1 in CAA play after splitting a two-game road swing through Elon and William & Mary. Hofstra boasts the league's most productive offense with 30 goals, which is five more than the next-closest squad in UNCW.
Leading the way is senior forward Sam Scolarici, who has a conference-leading 12 goals. Scolarici already has posted four multi-goal games this season, including two scoring strikes in the team's CAA-opening win at Elon. The Aldie, Virginia native already has set program career records for goals (45) and points. She needs just three more points to reach 100.
Junior forward Leah Galton has a stat line of 7-1-15 and has teamed with Scolarici for 19 of the team's 30 goals. Galton, the reigning CAA Player of the Year, is tied with Elysse Bizzozzaro (2000-04) for sixth-most on the all-time list and can tie Jerilyn Marinan (1997-00) for fifth-most with her next goal.
Hofstra is 5-8-2 in the all-time series against the Dukes. The Pride lost to James Madison in the previous meeting in the 2013 CAA Tournament semifinals, 3-1. Scolarici scored a penalty kick goal in the game before JMU scored two second-half goals to advance.
This season, JMU is 6-5 but won the conference opener with a 4-2 victory at Towson. The Dukes feature a balanced offense with a trio of three-goal scorers in Rachel Ivey, Sydney Braun-McLeod and Katie Hyland.
Towson is 3-5-2 and lost to James Madison in the CAA opener. The Tigers will play at Northeastern on Friday before heading south to face Hofstra and cap a two-game road swing. Katie Ponce leads Towson with three goals. Her offense has helped support goalkeeper Erin Quinn, who has played all but 22:06 in net this season in posting four shutouts and a .790 save percentage.
Hofstra has enjoyed historical success in the all-time meeting, going 16-2-1 against the Tigers, including wins in 11 of the last 12 matchups. Scolarici scored twice, including the game-winning goal in the 88th minute, to lift the Pride to a win at Towson in the previous game between the schools last season.
Injuries to Hofstra's backs and midfielders have allowed other players the chance to contribute. Senior Lulu Echeverry boosted the Pride's offense by scoring in her first goal in more than a calendar year with a floater over the head of Elon goalkeeper Kate Murphy. Echeverry, who played as reserve in that contest, previously scored on Sept. 6, 2013 versus Marist.
Junior defender Mallory Ullrich has been a constant in a changing backfield. The transfer from UNC Greensboro, who is in her second year with the Pride, recorded her first point in a Hofstra uniform with an assist on Galton's goal against the Phoenix. A new-look defense featured freshman Rhian Cleverly in the starting lineup as well as veterans such as senior Caylin Dudley to play in front of sophomore goalkeeper Friederike Mehring, who has started every game in net.
Closing out leads has been a Hofstra specialty this season with Head Coach Simon Riddiough's team 4-0 when scoring first and 5-0 when leading at halftime. The team has scored three-or-more goals five times and is undefeated when reaching that mark.
Game Notes
