PRINCETON, N.J. – For the second time in program history, the Hofstra University women defeated a ranked opponent as it blanked No. 22 Princeton on the road, 2-0 at Sherrerd Field at the Class of 1952 Stadium Thursday night.
Hofstra, ranked No. 23 in the nation by the United Soccer Coaches, improved to 8-1, claimed its fifth consecutive win, third successive clean sheet and fourth shutout out of its last five performances. Princeton (5-1-1) suffered its first loss.
The match was even overall, as the Pride edged out the Tigers, 12-11 in shots, but the home team had the advantage in shots on goal, 7-4. Goalkeeper Skylar Kuzmich made a career-high seven stops to record her fifth shutout this season.
Hofstra wasted no time as fifth-year forward Lucy Shepherd dribbled up the right side and delivered her signature cross to freshman Georgia Brown in front of the target. Brown headed home her fourth goal of the season in the 10th minute.
That momentum shifted slightly in the beginning of the second half, as Princeton recorded three of the first four shots, including two that were stopped by Kuzmich. Junior forward Ellen Halseth put a stop to that energy, as she doubled Hofstra’s lead in the 54th minute when she slid in a shot to the lower right corner off of passes by senior forward Miri Taylor and fifth-year midfielder,Jordan Littleboy.
Princeton had a huge opportunity in the 81st minute, but Kuzmich came up big with her final stop of the night after a loose ball tapped the crossbar.
Hofstra is slated to open up its Colonial Athletic Association schedule Towson University at home Sept. 26.
