HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The No. 14 Hofstra women's soccer team picked its sixth-straight win and fourth-straight shutout, opening up Colonial Athletic Association play with a 2-0 decision over Towson at the Hofstra Soccer Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
 
Hofstra has now blanked seven of its 10 opponents this season, moving to 9-1 overall and 1-0 in the CAA. Towson dropped to 5-3-2 on the year.
 
Despite the 2-0 score, Hofstra was tested early and often as the Pride faced a season-high 13 shots during the contest. Hofstra ultimately prevailed in shot opportunities, 21-13, as reining United Soccer Coaches Division I Player of the Week and CAA Defensive Player of the Week Skylar Kuzmich had another spectacular outing in goal with five saves, two away from her previous career-high of seven that she set at Princeton last contest. Towson goalkeeper Riley Melendez made eight stops in between the iron.
 
Hofstra took advantage of an early opportunity as Towson committed a handball inside the box that allowed senior forward Miri Taylor to slide in a penalty kick goal to give the Pride an early 1-0 advantage. The goal would not deflate Towson, however, as the Tigers placed two shots on goal by the 22-minute mark, one of which was a point blank save by Kuzmich in the 17th minute.
 
The Pride had several golden opportunities near the 30th minute of play, particularly when Shepherd took an excellent chance from afar, however Melendez just got a finger on the ball and deflected Shepherd's shot into the crossbar before the ball fell to the feet of Ellen Halseth in front of the net, but her rebound opportunity went just high.
 
The defensive battle continued into the second half, and after some close chances by both teams, Hofstra once again took advantage of a Towson miscue when Taylor intercepted a pass intended for Melendez and gently chipped it over her head, giving Hofstra a bit more breathing room with just six minutes remaining in the second half. Hofstra managed to carry out that two-goal lead the remainder of the way, claiming its first league victory of the season.
 
Hofstra will have another somewhat extended break, as the Pride will now hit the road and travel to James Madison for a meeting on Sunday, October 3. Kick-off at Sentara Park is set for 1 p.m.
 
NOTES:
-Hofstra is now 25-2-1 against Towson, and during the last five meetings, Hofstra has out-scored the Tigers, 23-3.
-Hofstra extends its nation's longest home winning streak to 13 matches and home unbeaten streak to 23 matches. Hofstra has not lost a match at the Hofstra Soccer Stadium in 1,088 days.
-Miri Taylor has had at least one point in all 10 matches for Hofstra this season so far. She now has 78 for her career, tying her for eighth all-time in program history with Jill Mulholland (2012-16) with 78 points.
-Taylor is now also tied for 10th all-time with 26 goals (tied with Elyse Bizzozzaro who also had 26 from 2000-04).
-Hofstra is now out-scoring opponents, 28-4 this season