Shootout Goes To Hofstra 5-4

September 4, 2015

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – What has the potential to be a very potent Yale offense was on full display Friday at Reese Stadium. The Bulldogs erupted for four goals. Unfortunately Hofstra is quite skilled as well, and it was the Pride that struck last to escape with a 5-4 overtime victory in the second game of the Yale Soccer Classic.

Jeannine Molleda scored the game-winner with 6:32 left in the second extra period when she banged home a centering pass from Kristin Desmond.

“That might be the craziest game I’ve coached at Yale,” Meredith said.

The Bulldogs (0-2) had a 3-1 lead only to watch Hofstra tally three goals in an 11-minute stretch midway through the second half.

Yale then rallied to tie it on Sofia Griff’s goal with less than two minutes remaining in regulation.

Five different players had points for the Bulldogs. Freshman Keri Cavallo scored twice, while Griff and Ally Grossman added a goal and an assist. Freshmen Michelle Alozie and Fallon Sheridan each had assists.

“It’s important to have balanced scoring,” Meredith said. “To have a couple of different players score is very exciting.”

Defensively, though, the Bulldogs remain a work in progress, having yielded nine goals in their two games, albeit against excellent competition in SEC power Arkansas and Hofstra.

“We are not defending crosses and corner kicks very well,” Meredith said. “Two or three of the goals against Arkansas and three or four tonight came on crosses or corner kicks. We’ve got to do a better job.”

Yale got off to a great start against the Pride as Cavallo scored just 58 seconds in when she headed in a perfect cross from Alozie.

Hofstra, though, features one of the top players in the Northeast in two-time CAA Player of the Year Leah Galton, and she tied the score at 7:22 on a nifty turnaround shot from in front.

Cavallo’s second goal came late in the first half. This time, she took a feed from Griff and fired a shot inside the post from 10 yards out at 42:59.

Grossman then gave Yale a two-goal lead early in the second half, firing a perfect free kick from nearly 25 yards out.

Yale had a bit of good fortune on the tying goal. Griff’s shot hit the post, but deflected off Hofstra goalkeeper Friederike Mehring’s back into the net.

The Bulldogs also got a break when Galton picked up a second yellow card at 82:03, forcing the Pride to play with 10 for the rest of the game.

The Yale Classic resumes on Sunday. Hofstra plays Central Connecticut at noon followed by Yale taking on UMass at 2:30 p.m.

UMass and Central played a spirited 1-1 tie in the first game of the day on Friday.