By Alex Hyman, Staff Writer
The Hofstra Men’s Soccer team (1-2-0) departs for upstate New York this weekend for the Inaria Classic. Hofstra will be one of four teams including Colgate University, Cornell University, and Long Island University. On Friday night, the Pride takes on Colgate (4-0-1) with its second match coming against Cornell (0-1-2).
The Pride split its first two home matches of the year, losing 2-0 to Iona College and defeating the University of Albany 3-2 in overtime. They then traveled to Brooklyn, New York to battle St. Francis and was defeated 1-0.
Senior Brett Carrington and sophomores Chris Griebsch and Florian Popp all have scored one goal for the Pride this season. Sophomore Roberto Pellegrini has started all three matches in net for Hofstra.
The Pride has tried to work the momentum from their three-goal performance against Albany but could not net any goals against St. Francis. Hofstra did get eight shots off but only two of them found goalkeeper Tyler Clarhaut as he kept the Pride scoreless. Griebsch recorded the Pride’s only two shots on goal.
Colgate University will be one of the toughest matchups of the season for the Pride. The Red Raider’s leading scorer, senior Steven Miller will stand to be a tough task for the Pride defense. Sophomore Shaun Foster and the rest of the Pride defense will certainly have to work hard to keep Colgate off the scoring sheet.
Colgate’s star defender, senior Mike Reese, also has been familiar with the scoring sheet as well as keeping opponents off. He is second on the team with two goals. Co-captains Miller and Reese will strongly test the Pride at both ends of the field.
For the second game of the weekend, the Pride heads to Ithaca, New York to take on Cornell. The Big Red is coming off of back-to-back ties with both matches finishing in 1-1 draws.
Sophomores Daniel Haber and Patrick Slogic are tied among Big Red players with three points, each earning one goal and one assist. Sophomore Jake Rinow owns the other season goal for the Big Red.
The Pride was 4-3-2 on the road in the 2010 campaign and is currently 0-1 in 2011. The Pride returns home for a pair of games after this Upstate New York road trip.

Junior defender A.J. Laza (2) keeps possession against Drexel last season. (File Photo/The Chronicle)