The Hofstra University men’s soccer team suffered back-to-back losses after a 2-1 defeat to the No. 19 University of New Hampshire Wildcats on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at Wildcat Stadium in Durham, New Hampshire. Their overall record dropped to 9-3-4 as they fell to their first ranked opponent of the season.
Despite a season-high seven saves for Hofstra goalkeeper Wessel Speel, the visiting Pride failed to pull the upset over their first ranked opponents of the year. Defender Dominik Kurija was a vital piece in the Wildcats’ come-from-behind victory with a goal and an assist in the second half. His assist was a shot on goal which was initially saved by Speel before being tapped in on the rebound by graduate student Eli Goldman.
Kurija scored the winning goal for New Hampshire in the 63rd minute with a strike from well outside the box that found the far-left corner. A helpless Speel dove to his right and watched the ball hit the back of the net, proving his efforts surmountable. The Pride gave up the halftime lead which was given to them by senior defender Nico Oberrauch in the 21st minute. Midfielder Eliot Goldthorp recorded his ninth assist of the season as he curled a cross to the far-right corner before it was headed home by Oberrauch, the first goal of his Hofstra career.
The Wildcats outranked the Pride 22-10 in total shots, totaling 11 shots each half, and 6-of-11 shots in the second half were on goal, double the number of shots on goal in the first half. New Hampshire goalkeeper Joseba Incera totaled four saves, three of which he made in the second half. The majority of Speel’s saves also arrived after the intermission.
Graduate midfielder Albert Kang missed his first start of the season after 15 games; however, he was subbed into the game when Hofstra took the lead. He totaled 59 minutes, the most out of any Pride substitute.
While Hofstra suffered their second defeat in a row, New Hampshire celebrated their second successive win. The Wildcats’ overall record improved to 8-1-4, this being their seventh victory over an inter-conference opponent this season. As for the Pride, it was their second defeat to an opponent outside of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) in 2023. All defeats have come on the road.
The latest United Soccer Coaches poll released prior to kickoff revealed that the Pride had dropped outside the top 25 following a 2-1 defeat to the University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens on Saturday, Oct. 14. The defending CAA champions have struggled to close games out recently, with both of their previous losses including two-goal concessions in the second half.
Hofstra will return home after losing two of three road games. Only two regular season games remain, both of which are against conference opponents. The Pride face the Drexel University Dragons on Saturday, Oct. 21. Kickoff from Hofstra Soccer Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Gil Talbot
