WILMINGTON, North Carolina – UNCW and No. 10 Hofstra entered Sunday's game at the UNCW Soccer Stadium as the lone unbeaten teams in the Colonial Athletic Association women's soccer standings and after 100 minutes, it appeared both teams were heading to a tie.
But, senior midfielder
Miri Taylor did her part to make sure the Pride remained unbeaten as her goal in the 102nd minute propelled Hofstra to a 2-1 double-overtime victory over the Seahawks.
The win elevated the Pride's record to 12-1-0 overall and 4-0-0 in the CAA. UNCW, meanwhile, saw an end to its eight-game unbeaten streak and stands 7-2-1 overall with a 3-1-0 mark against league opponents.
After conceding the tying goal in the 76th minute, Hofstra earned the golden goal victory with 8:02 remaining in the second overtime period. Junior forward
Ellen Halseth made a run down the middle of the field before finding fifth-year midfielder
Lucy Porter along the endline.
Porter sent a crossing pass into the penalty area that found Taylor, who one-timed the ball past freshman goalkeeper
Kaylie Bierman for her 14th goal of the season.
UNCW and Hofstra played a scoreless first half before the Pride broke the deadlock in the 50th minute as Porter converted passes from Porter and fifth-year forward
Lucy Shepherd with a shot in front of the goal.
The Seahawks answered with 14:41 remaining as senior defender
Carey Allard sent a free kick into the penalty area that was collected by graduate student forward
Audrey Harding. Harding fired a low shot into the middle of the goal that snuck past junior goalkeeper
Skylar Kuzmich for her fifth goal of the campaign.
Bierman, who entered the game as the CAA leader in save percentage, registered a season-high eight saves in the loss for UNCW, which was outshot by a 21-8 margin, including a 5-1 count in the overtime periods.
Kuzmich, the CAA leader in goals against average, notched six saves for Hofstra, which conceded a goal for just the fifth time this season.
UNCW and Hofstra continue their Colonial Athletic Association schedules on Thursday, Oct. 14. The Seahawks visit Drexel for a 4 p.m. contest in Philadelphia, while Hofstra returns home to welcome Northeastern for a 7 p.m. fixture.
