The Hofstra University field hockey team lost to the University of Maine 1-3 on Friday, Sept. 6. With the loss, the Pride has now dropped their opening road game of the season for 15 consecutive years.
The Black Bears improve to 3-1 on the season as Hofstra falls to 0-2.
The Pride’s first goal of the season came late in the fourth quarter off a corner. Defender Teresa Karoff passed the ball to Karissa Hough on the point who ripped a shot on goal. Karoff deflected the ball over Rozárie Mrázová’s head and into the net. Karoff’s goal was the fourth of her career.
The Black Bear’s attack netted three goals on 11 shots. Poppy Lambert, Victoria Tinghitella and Alexandra Sacker all scored one goal apiece.
The Pride played an even first 15 minutes with the Black Bears, leading in shots on goal 2-1 and corners 3-2 halfway through the first quarter.
Momentum shifted in favor of Maine throughout the second quarter, as Lambert got the Black Bears on the board with four minutes to spare in the opening half. After Maine took the lead, they didn’t let Hofstra back in the game.
The third quarter saw the Black Bears outshoot Hofstra 7-1 and gain five corners to Hofstra’s zero. Maine forwards Kate Richardson and Bhreagh Kennedy looked for the team’s second goal but were each denied by Hofstra goaltender Pieke Roos just three seconds apart. On the ensuing play, it looked like Sacker scored, but the goal was called back because Roos was in possession of the ball.
Roos had her best and busiest quarter of the game making four saves on five shots on goal. Eventually, the Black Bears’ persistence shined through and rewarded Tinghitella with a goal.
The final frame featured a more even back-and-forth play, similar to the first quarter, with the exception of a goal by Sacker early in the quarter.
The Pride ended the game strong with Karoff’s goal in the final minute to lose to Maine 3-1. Hofstra lost to Maine 4-1 last year in Hempstead, and ultimately played a much closer game this time around.
Hofstra has now given up three goals in consecutive games for the first time since Oct. 15 and Oct. 20, 2023 against Northeastern University and Quinnipiac University.
Hofstra played their next game on Saturday, Sept. 7, in a neutral-site matchup against Central Michigan University.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Seth Poplaski
