In a physical match, the Stony Brook women’s soccer team struggled to get any form of offensive flow against the Hofstra Pride at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium on Thursday night. The Seawolves went on to lose the game 1-0, the team’s fifth consecutive loss.
“Their attacking players pressed us a lot and disrupted the way we wanted to play,” Stony Brook head coach Brendan Faherty said. “We made a mistake and they made us pay for it.”
Hofstra scored the game’s lone goal in the 53rd minute when senior forward Kristin Desmond broke the scoreless tie. She leads the team with four goals on the season. Stony Brook struggled to maintain an offensive rhythm. The team finished the first half with one shot on goal compared to Hofstra’s six.
The Seawolves finished the night with seven shots, two of which were on goal. The Pride ended the contest with 16 shots, with 10 on goal. Hofstra finished the game with 16 fouls, which is more than double the amount of fouls the Seawolves committed, suppressing the Seawolves’ chances of creating anything on offense. Another main factor for the Pride was their ability to block shots, including a potential opportunity by the Seawolves in the 76th minute from just inside the box which would have tied the game.
Despite the loss, freshman goalkeeper Sofia Manner played one of the best games of her young career as a Seawolf. She finished the game with a season-high nine saves, including six in the first half.
“They’re dangerous on restarts and corner kicks and she did a really good job against it,” Faherty said. “She is a big part of how we want to play.”
Senior midfielder Samantha Goodwin had both of Stony Brook’s shots on net. Her corner kick in the 39th minute was another missed opportunity, and found the hands of the goalkeeper instead of the back of the net.
Hofstra rotated goalies before the start of the second half, replacing senior Jenna Borresen with redshirt-junior Ashley Wilson. Toward the later part of the second half, Stony Brook stepped up its offensive tempo. Accurate passing and more possessions rewarded them with more opportunities. Yet, the Pride fought off the late surge with the help of their defense. A blocked shot in the 89th minute sealed the win for the Pride.
Stony Brook’s overall record falls to 2-6 as it looks to try and turn things around Sunday, Sept. 15 when the team travels to Staten Island to take on the Wagner Seahawks at 1 p.m.
