The No. 23 Hofstra University men’s soccer team bounced back to earn their first win of the 2025 campaign with a 2-0 win over St. John’s University at Captain’s Field on Sunday, Aug. 24.

Laurie Goddard scored his first goal of the season, while Daniel Burko recorded his second goal since joining the Pride.

“Quite pleasing,” said Hofstra head coach Richard Nuttall, “More of a Hofstra type of performance. Hard-working, closed down well, didn’t give many chances and kept a clean sheet … After the disappointing loss to Bucknell [University], it’s a brilliant turnaround for us. I’m pleased. We showed true grit and determination.”

Hofstra came out of the gate running, playing aggressively on both sides of the ball as St. John’s spent most of the first 10 minutes in their own half. The Red Storm were able to withstand the pressure and even deter the Pride with some resistance of their own.

The Pride manufactured their first goal out of thin air at around the seven minute mark.

Goalkeeper Sean Bohan received a pass to reset the offense and ended up launching the ball from his own 18-yard box to nearly three-quarters of the length of the pitch to Daniel Burko. Burko headed the ball forward to an open Goddard, who was brought down by his jersey from behind by a defender, resulting in a penalty.

The Pride captain, cool and composed, rocketed the ball past St. John’s keeper Alec McLachlan for his first goal of the season. It was the first goal from the penalty spot in Goddard’s career.

Hofstra continued to apply the pressure, desperately hunting an insurance goal. The Pride successfully found the back of the net again just three minutes later.

St. John’s defender Guilherme Gomes lost track of the Pride’s Aaron Basenach, who snuck up behind him, stealing the ball. Basenach found Burko with a through pass behind the Red Stom backline. The senior forward, now one-on-one with the keeper, wrapped his shot around McLachlan to double Hofstra’s lead.

The defense took the Pride the rest of the way, holding St. John’s to seven shots with just two shots on goal.

Bohan recorded two saves, including a nice save in the 69th minute, reaching to barely tip a shot by Jad Benjelloun over the crossbar.

“After [Bohan’s] tough first game, he did a wonderful job,” Nuttall said. “He did everything he had to do in a proper manner.”

The Pride earned their first win over St. John’s since 2015, and the first at home since 1994.

“St. John’s is a great university,” Nuttall said. “[Head coach David] Masur and his staff, I know them all. They’re just wonderful people, and they do a brilliant job. That’s made me even more proud of our performance.”

After leading the Pride with six shots and four shots on goal in his debut, Burko had a team-high of three shots in the game, with two of them on goal.

Hofstra then went on the road for the first time this season, visiting Binghamton University on Sunday, Aug. 31.