“I’m incredibly disappointed” was the first thing Seth Tierney, head coach of the Hofstra University men’s lacrosse team, said following a 13-12 loss to Drexel University on Saturday, April 13. The loss sinks Hofstra to 1-4 in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play while Drexel improves to 2-3.
Jack Joyner scored the game-winning goal for the Dragons with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. Hofstra was given a two-man-up advantage with just over a minute remaining but turned the ball over to end their chance at a comeback.
The Pride’s John Madsen continued his outstanding junior campaign with another four-goal performance, and Colton Rudd bounced back with a goal and three assists in the loss.
Gavin Kelly scored the first goal of the game for the Dragons right before the two-minute mark and later added two assists to spark a 4-0 run from Drexel over the first seven minutes. Hofstra’s first tally came from Trevor Natalie moments later.
Drexel scored two more goals to extend their lead to five, their largest of the day. Trey Parkes cut the deficit to four for Hofstra at the end of the first quarter.
Hofstra pushed Drexel back with goals from Rory Jones and Madsen early in the second. Both goals for the Pride came from face-off wins, which Chase Patterson had 16 of. Joyner earned the lone goal for the Dragons in the second quarter to make the score 7-3 at the half.
The game turned into an arms race between the two teams as they traded goals for the entirety of the third quarter. The game opened up and featured sloppy play from both sides.
Luke Tomak scored a three in the third quarter to respond to any push the Pride had. Drexel goalkeeper Drew McGill stopped a goal from Madsen on a behind-the-back pass from JT Roselle. Madsen got one back on the next possession, and Griffin Turner tallied his first of the game with under a minute in the third frame, giving Hofstra momentum going into the fourth quarter.
With both teams essentially playing for their season, Hofstra had the jump to start the quarter. Patterson won the opening draw, and Hofstra moved the ball much better than they had in the first 45 minutes. Defender Blake Cooling caused a turnover and scored a goal on a rocket shot from 20 yards out. Sam Lutfi and Justin Sykes continued the Pride’s run in the fourth.
With seven minutes left, Joyner scored the goal that proved to be the dagger in the game. Although Hofstra had chances after Joyner’s goal, they couldn’t capitalize.
“We cleared the ball well and rode them back,” Tierney said. “We were positive in the face-off X. Those are two stats that say ‘what went wrong’ if you didn’t win that game. Everything else was even.”
Hofstra’s comeback efforts fell short again as the team fell to 1-3 in games decided by one goal this season.
“We lost this game in the first quarter,” Tierney said. “And we didn’t win it in the fourth quarter.”
Hofstra takes the field next on Tuesday, April 16, when No. 8 Yale University comes to Hempstead in the Pride’s final non-conference game. Hofstra plays winless Hampton University in their next CAA contest on Saturday, April 20. Hofstra must win against the Pirates to have a chance to make the conference tournament for the first time since 2021.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Evan Bernstein
