Hempstead, N.Y. - Hofstra scored two second-half goals and held a potent Ohio State team to just one shot-on-net as the Pride kicked off the 2012 campaign in strong fashion with a 2-0 season-opening victory over the Buckeyes on Friday night at Hofstra Soccer Stadium.
Sophomore midfielder Lulu Echeverry (East Meadow, N.Y.) and sophomore forward Sam Scolarici (Aldie, Va.) netted the second half goals and junior Emily Morphitis made one save for the shutout. Hofstra improved to 3-3 in the last six season openers while blanking a Buckeyes squad that received votes in the national NSCAA preseason poll.
Echeverry ensured her first collegiate goal was a memorable game-winner against an Ohio State squad that is coming off back-to-back appearances in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament.
Fellow sophomore Erin Havard (Fairfax, Va.) set up the goal, sending a cross off a corner to Echeverry, who beat Ohio State keeper Rachel Middleman to the high right-side for the 1-0 lead in the 60th minute.
Scolarici, who played as a reserve in the contest, found her way on the score-sheet with a clutch goal at 72:00 to give the Pride a key insurance marker. Looking to just kick it deep, Scolarici fired a sweeping shot from 40-yards out. But the ball bounced in the goal area and the sidespin spiraled away from Middleman's out-stretched glove for a 2-0 edge.
Scolarici, who is Hofstra's leading returning scorer from 2011 after netting five goals as a freshman, again proved she could find the net with the unassisted marker. The Pride then made the lead stand up with Morphitis (London, England) leading the way.
Morphitis made the save in her only shot-on-goal faced, which came in the opening half. After picking up four clean sheets as a sophomore, Morphitis fended off six Ohio State corner kicks.
The netminder also benefitted from stellar defense in front. Freshman Leah Galton (Harrogate, England) looked strong in her Hofstra debut, joining with junior Ruby Staplehurst (London, England) freshman Chloe Dale (Birmingham, England) and Havard to hold the Buckeyes to just three shots in the opening half and four in the second half.
Hofstra now has momentum by defeating a Big 10-power. Ohio State advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament last season, losing 2-1 to a Duke squad that won the national championship. The Pride limited forward Tiffany Cameron, who scored eight goals and registered 18 points in 2011, to just two shots.
Ohio State appeared to score with 40 seconds left but the officials waved off the goal, ensuring Morphitis' fifth individual shutout (she combined on eight shutouts as a freshman).
The Pride will next be in action on Aug. 24 when the team faces Temple at a neutral site at James Madison. Game time is set for 5 p.m.
