LEWISBURG, Pa. — Sophomore midfielder-defender Bella Richards scored in the 74th minute as the Hofstra University women recorded a 1-0 victory over Bucknell University at Emmitt Field Friday afternoon.

The win was Hofstra’s second in a season opener since 2012.

The Pride (1-0) is unbeaten in 15 of its past 16 games, dating back to last season.

Richards, a preseason All-Colonial Athletic Association selection, put the Pride on top in the 74th minute, taking a shot from just outside the 18-yard box that banked off the underside of the crossbar and into the net.

Senior Monique Iannella kept the Bison (0-1) off the board in the first half, hustling back to clear a ball off the goal line at the last second after a deflection past a sliding Jenna Borresen.

Hofstra upped the pressure in the second half, taking eight shots to Bucknell’s two.

Before netting the game-winner, Richards had come close earlier in the half, heading classmate Jordan Littleboy’s corner kick off the crossbar. Senior defender Madeline Anderson’s second-chance attempt bounced just off the top of the net.

Redshirt-senior goalkeepers Borresen and Ashley Wilson teamed up for the clean sheet, making two saves apiece.

The Pride opens its home schedule at 1 p.m. on Sunday against Fairfield at Hofstra Soccer Stadium Sundat at 1 p.m.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.