Gwenn van Dijk’s goal in double overtime lifted the Hofstra University field hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Bryant University on Sunday, Sept. 7. The Pride has gotten off to a hot start, with a 3-1 record on the season, just one game shy of matching their 2024-win total. Bryant falls to 2-2 to start the year.
Hofstra has won back-to-back games in overtime with their shootout win over Rider University and the double overtime victory against the Bulldogs.
Jamie Lewis broke open the scoring early in the third quarter, with her second goal of the season, putting the Pride up early while van Dijk came through with the late theatrics to seal the victory for the Pride in the second overtime. Freshman van Dijk has made an immediate impact on the Pride’s offense, totaling five points in her first four games.
Hofstra’s defense and goaltending was very strong throughout the game, allowing just four shots on goal. Freshman goalkeeper, Luci Hollister, has been an incredible addition to the Pride. She conceded just one goal while recording three saves. Hollister is the only Pride goalkeeper with minutes this season. She has notched 19 saves and allowed just six goals in four games this season.
Callie Caito scored Bryant’s loan goal. Alexa Sedicino and Caito were both threats on offense with three shots each, but the aggression of the Hofstra defense limited Bryant to a single goal. Bulldog’s goalkeeper Maud van Lierop faced five shots and conceded two goals.
The first half was filled with strong defense as neither team scored. Late in the first quarter, Caito threatened with a penalty corner and shot on goal, but it was deflected by Hollister. Caito’s shot was the only shot of the entire quarter as both teams struggled to make a push offensively.
Caito’s second shot was blocked two minutes into the second quarter. Van Dijk countered with a shot of her own that landed wide of the goal. Bryant had some offensive momentum after a penalty corner that allowed Sedicino to take two shots that were blocked and wide, respectively.
The game was scoreless until about 34 minutes in when Lewis scored her second goal of the season. The Bulldogs tried to get the goal right back with a quick shot by Elyse Bouchard that Hollister saved.
Bryant answered in the fourth quarter to tie the game at one apiece. Claire Joss assisted Caito with her fourth goal of the season to force overtime.
Jamie Mc Millan tried to put the Pride up right away in overtime but was shut down. Five minutes into overtime, Bryant took their first shot, a wide stroke by Megan Smith. Kelly Lovegood countered with a wide shot of her own less than a minute later. Hofstra tried to take advantage of a corner with less than a minute on the clock, but the shot by Riley MacIntosh was wide.
The Pride came out hot in the second overtime with a shot by van Dijk 37 seconds into the period. A minute later, van Dijk tried again and found the net, giving the Pride the 2-1 victory.
The Pride look to match their 2024 season wins total just five games into the season on the road against Yale University on Friday, Sept. 12. Gametime is set for 5 p.m.
