Hempstead, NY -
Junior Genna Kovar scored two goals and assisted on the third to lead the
Hofstra Pride to a 3-1 non-conference victory over the Catamounts of Vermont at
the Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Pride improved to 1-2
on the season while Vermont slipped to 1-2.
The Pride, who scored all three goals in the first half to build a 3-0 lead
after the first 35 minutes, scored their first goal of the year just 10:01 into
the contest. Kovar, a midfielder from Hampton Bays, NY who tallied 15 goals and
added five assists in 2009, opened the scoring by weaving into the middle of
the circle and beating Vermont goalie Brooke Crane (3 saves) for a 1-0 lead.
Almost 12 minutes later, Kovar notched her second goal, taking a pass back in
the middle from junior midfielder Arielle Williams, who was down low in the
circle to the right of Crane. Kovar buried the shot past the Catamount goalie
for a 2-0 lead.
Kovar, a NFHCA All-America third team selection a year ago, shared the wealth
on the Pride's third and final goal of the game just 4:27 later, passing to
junior forward Darrah Rachman deep in the circle. Rachman scored on a low
bullet for her first goal of the season and fourth of her career. Vermont had
several good chances in the first half but Pride goalie Amanda Heyde came up
big, making three of her five saves in the first half. Hofstra outshot the
Catamounts, 7-4 in the first 35 minutes.
Vermont had the first big opportunity in the second half six minutes in as
junior Alana Izzo fired a shot wide from the middle of the circle. But the Catamounts
did get on the board five minutes later, following a penalty corner. On the
corner, Izzo pushed the ball to senior defenseman Joanna Berger. Berger then
passed the ball to a moving senior middie Brittanie Booker, who fired a low
shot just past the right foot of Amanda Heyde to close the deficit to 3-1.
Hofstra outshot Vermont, 13-9 in the contest and had seven penalty corners to
the Catamounts six. The Pride return to action on Sunday (Sept. 5) when they
host the Pioneers of Sacred Heart University (0-3) at the Hofstra Field Hockey
Stadium. Game time is 1 p.m.
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