Princeton, N.J. – For the second time in program history, the Hofstra women's soccer team defeated a ranked opponent as the Pride blanked No. 22 Princeton on the road, 2-0 at Sherrerd Field at the Class of 1952 Stadium.
 
Hofstra, ranked No. 23 in the nation by the United Soccer Coaches, improved to 8-1 on the season, claimed its fifth-straight win, third-straight clean sheet, and fourth shutout out of its last five performances. Princeton suffered its first loss of the 2021 campaign and fell to 5-1-1 overall.
 
The match was even overall, as the Pride edged out the Tigers, 12-11 in shots, but the home team had the advantage in shots on goal, 7-4. Goalkeeper Skylar Kuzmich made a career-high seven stops to record her fifth shutout of the season
 
Hofstra wasted no time as fifth-year forward Lucy Shepherd dribbled up the right side and delivered her signature cross to freshman Georgia Brown directly in front of the target, who headed home her fourth goal of the season in the 10th minute of play. Each team had several chances by the end of the first stanza, but Hofstra ended the half with the momentum.
 
That momentum shifted slightly in the beginning of the second half, as Princeton recorded three of the first four shots of the second half, including two that were stopped by Kuzmich. Junior forward Ellen Halseth put a stop to that energy, as she doubled Hofstra's lead in the 54th minute when she slid in a shot to the lower right corner off of passes by senior forward Miri Taylor and fifth-year midfielder, Jordan Littleboy.
 
Princeton had a huge opportunity in the 81st minute, but once again, Kuzmich came up big with her final stop of the night after a loose ball tapped the crossbar.
 
With the non-conference schedule coming to a close, Hofstra is slated to open up its Colonial Athletic Association schedule on Sunday, September 26 against the Towson Tigers. Kick-off at the Hofstra Soccer Stadium is set for 1 p.m.
 
NOTES:
-Hofstra earned its second win over a ranked opponent in program history. The first was when Hofstra defeated #22 Boston College, 4-1 in the NCAA Tournament in 2018. Head coach Simon Riddiough has faced off against ranked opponents on 22 occasions since he took over the program in 2006
-Hofstra is now 4-2 all-time against Princeton
-The Pride faced over half of the Ivy League this season and went 5-0 against Ivy League opponents this season. Four of those wins were shutouts and Hofstra out-scored the Ivy League, 15-1
-Miri Taylor and Lucy Shepherd both move up the Hofstra record books in assist, as Taylor is now tied for second in program history with 26 assists (needs one more to tie the program record) and Shepherd is now tied for eighth all-time with Jess Crankshaw (20).
-Taylor, who led the nation in points per game heading into the match, continues her point streak this season and has now recorded at least one point in all nine matches this season