October 14, 2012
SOLE POSSESSION
Hofstra women grab CAA lead with 3-1 win

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - The Hofstra women scored twice in less than three minutes in the second half to post a 3-1 win over Towson to move into sole possession of first place in the Colonial Athletic Association on Sunday afternoon at James M. Shuart Stadium.

Sophomore Lulu Echeverry scored in the first half and fellow sophomore Sam Scolarici and freshman Leah Galton added second-half goals as the Pride improved to 10-5 overall and 6-1 in CAA play. Towson fell to 1-13-1 and 1-6 against the league.

Hofstra won for the seventh time in the last eight games. With William and Mary losing to Drexel, the Pride sits alone atop the CAA standings. The Pride also has outscored CAA teams, 16-6.

Junior Emily Morphitis (London, England) made three saves to preserve the victory. In home games, Hofstra improved to 7-0 while outscoring opponents, 18-3.

Hofstra outshot Towson, 24-6, and built a 5-1 advantage on corner kicks. Towson goalkeeper Erin Quinn made 11 saves.

Echeverry (East Meadow, N.Y.) opened the scoring with a near-right post goal in the 13th minute. Senior Brooke Bendernagel (Smithtown, N.Y.) initiated the play and Echeverry finished strong with her seventh goal of the season for the 1-0 lead.

Towson responded when Emily Banes flicked a ball past a defender and blasted a hard, high shot for the tying goal in the 26th minute to tie the score.

Quinn made six first-half saves, keeping the score. Out of halftime, the Pride broke through thanks to a nifty pass in the offensive end. Echeverry slide a pass to Scolarici (Aldie, Va.), who fired a shot at the top of the box for a 59th-minute goal and the 2-1 lead. Echeverry finished with a season-high three points.

Galton (Harrogate, England) and fellow freshman Jill Mulholland (Levittown, N.Y.) teamed up for the insurance goal in the 62nd minute. Just 2:11 after Scolarici found the net, Mulholland's outlet pass allowed Galton to run in for a breakaway. Galton converted the chance by scoring near the left side from six yards to make it 3-1.

Galton has 11 points in her last six games. Bendernagel, a defender, recorded her first point of the season.

The Pride plays at Old Dominion at 7 p.m. on Friday.