Miri Taylor connected for the game-winner for Hofstra. (Photo courtesy of Hofstra SID)
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The Hofstra University women clinched the top seed in the Colonial Athletic Association Championship, defeating William & Mary Tribe, 2-1, at Martin Family Stadium Sunday.
Hofstra (12-3-2, 7-0-2), which secured the CAA’s top seed for the second time in three years, received a quarterfinal round bye and will move onto the CAA semifinals. The Pride will host the winner of No. 4 seeded Northeastern University and No. 5 Elon Sunday, Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. The Tribe dropped to 5-11 overall and 3-5-1 in the conference.
The Pride extended its unbeaten streak to 13 matches, the longest since it compiled a 14-game unbeaten streak in 2017.
The visitors opened up scoring in the 21st minute when junior Lucy Porter intercepted a pass near midfield and found classmate Sabrina Bryan. Bryan sprinted up the middle, crossed over a defender and used her non-dominant foot to hit the back of the mesh for the seventh time this season.
The Tribe knotted the score in the 39th minute taking advantage of a Hofstra own goal.
Four minutes into the second half, Hofstra took the lead for good when sophomore Miri Taylor crossed up a Tribe player and left-footed a goal from the top of the penalty area off a Porter assist. It was Taylor’s fifth goal in her last six matches.
Porter has 35 points this year, tied for fourth all-time in a single season with Carlene Wawrzonek (1994 season). She needs two more to equal Sam Scolarici, who posted 37 points in 2014.
Shortly after, the Tribe had a one-on-one opportunity and freshman goalkeeper Skylar Kuzmich altered the shooter enough to force the shot inches right of the post.