Hempstead, NY – Junior
Claudia Marin Samper scored twice during the Pride's three-goal first half and sophomore goalie
Carys Swan made six of her nine saves in the second half as Hofstra defeated the Aggies of UC Davis, 4-2 at the Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium Sunday afternoon.
Hofstra, which has won its last two games, improved to 4-3 on the season. The Aggies, who dropped their fourth game in the last five outings, fell to 3-5.
Hofstra came out of the gate fast Sunday, scoring three times in the first 15:50. Marin Samper opened the scoring just 1:30 into the game on a long pass from sophomore
Simca Schoen that sent her in one-on-one with Aggie goalie Erica Cohen. It was her sixth goal of the season. Marin Samper struck again in the 11th minute, picking up a loose ball in the middle of the circle and knocking it home for a 2-0 lead.
Freshman
Samantha Schlegel closed out the scoring in the first half just five minutes later when sophomore
Emily Barber sent a tip pass to her near the goal line for her fourth goal of the season. The Aggies settled down after the third goal and put the pressure on the Pride but Swan made three saves in the first 35 minutes to keep UC Davis off the scoreboard. The Aggies outshot the Pride, 10-6 in the first half and had four penalty corners to Hofstra's 1.
UC Davis closed the deficit to 3-1 in the 41st minute when Jamie Garcia scored off a penalty corner with Danielle Koehne and Briana Sooy assisting. It was Garcia's fourth goal of the year.
Hofstra boosted the lead back to three when junior co-captain
Colby Hussong scored off a backhanded strike from the right side at the 58:38 mark. It was her second goal of the season.
The Aggies had several good opportunities in the second half but Swan came up big on several UC Davis bullets. The Aggies did get through on the final play of the game - a penalty corner - when Kate Young tipped home a shot by Hannah Drawbridge in front. It was her first goal of the year.
UC Davis outshot Hofstra, 23-13, including 13-7 in the second half, and had 11 penalty corners to the Pride's two.
Hofstra returns to action on Friday, September 18 when the Riverhawks of UMass Lowell come to the Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium for a 3 p.m. game.