September 13, 2009 SURVIVING A WILD FINISH Hofstra women hold on, 3-2
Hempstead, N. Y. -- Salma Tarik had a goal and an assist and drew a foul for a penalty kick as the Hofstra women team held on for a 3-2 win over Harvard at Hofstra Soccer Stadium Sunday afternoon.
Hofstra (3-3) has now beaten both of last year's Ivy League co-champions, as it also defeated Princeton 2-1 back on Sept. 4.
On Friday night, Hofstra led No. 12 Indiana 2-0 with 10 minutes to go and ended up losing 3-2 in extratime after the Hoosiers tied the game in 89th minute. The Pride had to survive a wild finish to avoid losing its second straight home game, something that has not happened in the same season since 1998.
Harvard (1-3-1) pulled within 2-1 in the 81st minute on a goal from Caroline Albanese, who out-fought the Pride defense for a cross from Melanie Baskind. After a couple of ricochets, Albanese was able to send a half-volley from 10 yards into the left side of the net.
Just over a minute later, Tarik was taken down at the top of the penalty area and senior defender Diane Caldwell slotted home the penalty kick to seemingly salt the win away for Hofstra. However, Harvard answered right back 58 seconds later when a Hofstra clearance off a corner kick went to Harvard's Lizzy Nichols just inside the top of the box. She sent a one-timer that skimmed off Caldwell's head along the goal line and under the crossbar to pull the Crimson back within 3-2.
The Pride had to withstand one final dangerous threat, as junior goalkeeper Krysten Farriella (Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) came out of net to win a 50-50 ball, but was on the ground as the ball found Alexandra Conigliaro inside the right edge of the box. Conigliaro sent a line drive towards the vacated net, but senior defender Jess Crankshaw (Lanoka Harbor, N.J.) was in the right spot to head the ball away and preserve the 3-2 lead.
After a 0-0 first half, Tarik (Bellmore, N.Y.) got the offense going in the 50th minute when she got on the back end of a hard, low cross from sophomore forward Laura Greene (Holbrook, N.Y.) and one-timed a five-yard shot past goalkeeper Lauren Mann.
The Pride added an insurance goal in the 62nd minute as Tarik sent a diagonal ball to freshman midfielder Danielle Murino (Bohemia, N.Y.) along the right edge of the box. Murino cut back to the middle, and sent a hard, low shot inside the right post for her first collegiate goal.
