Youthful Pride face stiff early tests

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A non-conference schedule that includes Ohio State, Temple, Georgetown and Wake Forest will provide Hofstra’s women’s soccer team with an early measuring stick and help it prepare for Colonial Athletic Association foes, beginning with UNC-Wilmington on Sept. 20.

“We’re a young team with only one senior and looking forward to an exciting season,” Pride coach Simon Riddiough said. “There’s a lot of parity in the CAA, and our goal is to win it.”

Hofstra comes off a 10-win campaign (6-5 in CAA) that ended with a loss to Delaware in the opening round of the conference tournament. Replacing standouts Laura Greene, Courtney Breen and Brittany Butts will be difficult, Riddiough said, but the Pride’s depth appears strong. “Losing those three is a huge hit,” he said. “They’re everything you’d want in a student-athlete.”

Greene led last year’s team in goals with 13, while Breen was tremendous on set plays and found the net six times. “We’re going to spread the offense around more this year, which makes us more difficult to defend,” Riddiough explained. “At the same time, Laura was good for almost a goal a game and that’s tough to replace.”

A healthy Amber Stobbs could go a long way in helping Hofstra pick up the offensive slack. She has three years of eligibility remaining after a broken collarbone limited her to four games in 2011. The forward group also returns sophomores Sam Scolarici (five goals, two assists), Lulu Echeverry and Anya Koren, and could get a jolt from promising freshman Leah Galton.

Leading the midfield are junior Tara Kerns, who switched from fullback late last season, and talented freshman Jill Mulholland, who last fall led MacArthur High School to the New York State Class AA championship. “Tara’s strong on the ball and plays with composure,” Riddiough said of Kerns. Of Mulholland, he noted: “Jill’s fit right in. She can shoot and pass, and she’s got an unbelievable engine.”

Defensively, the Pride allowed only 22 goals a year ago and returns a bunch of key parts. In goal, junior Emily Morphitis has 32 career appearances under her belt including 14 starts in 2011 in which she posted a 7-7 mark with four shutouts, 44 saves and a 1.03 goals against average. Junior Kylie Shuster has played well when called upon and had three victories, including a shutout, last season. Also in the mix is sophomore Lucy Gillett. “I’m very happy with the goalie situation,” Riddiough said.

Anchoring the back row is senior Brooke Bendernagel, a three-year starter with leadership qualities a young team needs. Bendernagel and junior Brittany Farriella give the unit a pair of physical and aggressive defenders. At fullback, junior Ruby Staplehurst (six assists) and sophomore Caylin Dudley (four goals) can move the ball out of the zone and trigger the transition offense. Staplehurst’s strong foot replaces Breen’s on set plays.

While Riddiough said William & Mary is the conference favorite on paper, every game will be up for grabs. “Anyone can beat anyone,” he said.