Hofstra Beats Albany In Double Overtime

by Brian Bohl
September 14, 2012

 

Hempstead, N.Y.- - Junior Amber Stobbs scored a long-distance goal by chipping in a shot with 3:21 remaining in the second overtime period to send Hofstra to a 2-1 victory over Albany in a non-conference matchup on Friday night at Hofstra Soccer Stadium.

Freshman Jill Mulholland (Levittown, N.Y.) scored in the 57th minute to help Hofstra erase a 1-0 deficit in moving to 4-4 on the season. Albany goalkeeper Alana Brennan made 14 saves, including two sensational stops in the second overtime period, but it wasn't enough as the Great Danes fell to 3-4-1.

Hofstra won for the second time in three games and moved to 3-0 at home this season after controlling possession for much of the game. Hofstra posted a 35-8 shot advantage and garnered 13 corner kicks compared to one for Albany.

Both freshman Leah Galton (Harrogate, England) and junior Sam Scolarici (Aldie, Va.)  logged six shots, trailing only Stobbs' game-high eight attempts. The Pride had a 21-5 shot advantage after halftime.

Though Albany only had one corner, the Great Danes capitalized when Krista Fitzpatrick headed in Kelly Kempf's kick for a goal near the right post at 24:50 to open the scoring.

Junior goalkeeper Emily Morphitis (London, England) did not allow a goal after that, making four saves, including two in the first overtime, to put Hofstra in position to win.

Mulholland netted her third goal of the season and second in the last three games when she took teammate Lulu Echeverry's (East Meadow, N.Y.) pass and scored on a hard shot from almost 14 yards out for the tying goal at 56:32.

Hofstra applied heavy; sustained pressure all game long, though Brennan did her best to ward off the attack. The netminder made three sparkling saves after regulation, including a diving block at the far post to end the first overtime session.

In the second overtime, Brennan made back-to-back stops on Stobbs shot and blocked Mulholland's rebound attempt. She made another great save on Stobbs attempt near the five-minute mark, though the London, England native was successful on her third shot of the period, sending a chip that forced Brennan to back-peddle from the six-yard box. Brennan got her hand on the shot but couldn't stop it from going in under the crossbar, giving Hofstra the game-winner in the Pride's first overtime game since Sept. 23 last season versus James Madison.

Stobbs was mobbed by her  teammates after scoring her first goal in two seasons. Her previous scoring strike came on Oct. 10, 2010 when she scored against George Mason. Hofstra is now out-scoring opponents, 6-1, at home this season and is off to its best start at home since 2010.

The Pride will enter Colonial Athletic Association play with momentum when Hofstra travels to UNCW for the league opener on Thursday at 7 p.m.

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