Comeback Bid Falls Short for Harvard at Hofstra
Photo of Melanie Baskind courtesy DSPics.com.
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The Harvard
women’s soccer team scored two goals in the final 10 minutes
of play, but could not find the equalizer and fell to Hofstra, 3-2,
Sunday afternoon at Hofstra Soccer Stadium. Caroline Albanese, the
reigning Ivy League Player of the Week, and Lizzy Nichols supplied
the Crimson offense with a goal apiece, while Lauren Mann made four
saves between the pipes.
The teams played to a 0-0 tie after the first 45 minutes of play,
as Harvard (1-3-1) outshot Hofstra, 6-2, in the first half. The
Pride managed the first shot of the game, a chance from Diane
Caldwell that sailed high at 17:46, but the Crimson controlled much
of play in the latter stages of the opening half. In the 30th
minute, Katherine Sheeleigh fired her first of six shots on the day
on goal, but Krysten Farriella made her first of four saves on the
chance. Later on, Aisha Price blasted back-to-back shots at
Farriella in the 42nd minute, but both attempts were snared by the
goalkeeper, keeping Harvard off the scoreboard.
Salma Tarik broke the scoreless tie with a boot off a low cross
pass from Laura Greene at 49:08. Tarik one-timed the pass from five
yards out and past Mann, making it 1-0 in favor of the Pride.
Hofstra doubled its lead at the 61:30 mark when Tarik played a
diagonal pass to Danielle Murino near the right side of the box.
Murino evaded a Harvard defender and ripped a shot just inside the
right post.
At 63:31, Harvard gained possession after Hofstra was called for a
foul and Sheeleigh fired another shot on goal, but Farriella turned
it aside. Moments later, Mann stopped two shots by Greene and
another by Murino to keep Harvard in the game. With 9:49 remaining
on the clock, Albanese cut Harvard’s deficit in half, as she
sent a volley from 10 yards out into the left side of the net.
Nichols earned an assist as she played a cross pass directly to
Albanese.
The Pride struck again at 81:14, this time on a penalty kick goal
by Diane Caldwell. Tarik was taken down at the top of the penalty
area and Caldwell capitalized on the ensuing kick to put Hofstra
ahead, 3-1. The Crimson, however, responded immediately, as Nichols
scored Harvard’s second goal only 58 seconds later. Hofstra
(3-3) attempted to clear a corner kick, but the ball went directly
to Nichols at the top of the box. She nailed a one-timer that hit
Caldwell’s head and under the cross bard to pull Harvard
within one goal, 3-2, with 7:48 to play.
With the clock winding down, Alexandra Conigliaro kicked a line
drive towards the net, but a Hofstra’s Jess Crankshaw headed
the ball away, allowing the defense to clear.
The Crimson trailed in shots for the second half, 8-7, but led for
the game, 13-10. The Pride owned a 7-5 advantage in corner kicks,
but Harvard had three of four in the second half.
The Crimson will travel to Newton, Mass., to face No. 10 Boston
College Friday, Sept. 18. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Harvard will then face Boston University in a road game that will
be broadcast nationally on Fox Soccer Channel. The Crimson and
Terriers will meet Sunday, Sept. 20 at 5 p.m.
