The No. 18 Hofstra University men’s soccer team fell to the University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens 2-1 at Stuart and Suzanne Grant Stadium in Newark, Delaware, on Saturday, Oct. 14.
The Pride’s 12-game unbeaten streak came to an end as they suffered their first loss in conference play. Their Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) record dropped to 3-1-2 and their overall record dropped to 9-2-4.
Delaware snatched victory in front of their home crowd with a pair of freshmen goals in the second half. Midfielder Richard Monath initially gave the Blue Hens the lead only a minute into the restart, scoring in his second successive appearance. Defender T.J. Hastings was called into action in the 65th minute as he got his third goal of the season to restore the Blue Hens’ lead and ultimately lead them to a win. Delaware moved within three points of the Pride in the CAA standings after their head-to-head triumph. Their conference record improved to 2-2-2.
The Blue Hens’ second goal came nine minutes after Hofstra squared the game off of a corner kick, one of four total for the Pride. It was swept in by midfielder Eliot Goldthorp before it was headed in at the near corner by defender Pierce Infuso. The senior center back scored his third career goal for Hofstra, but it wasn’t enough to save a point or spark another second-half comeback for the defending CAA champions.
Delaware goalkeeper Adam Vik recorded a season-high four saves in his third consecutive start. Two of those saves arrived in the final 10 minutes of the match as he denied efforts by defender Jack O’Malley and midfielder Eoin Farrell. Midfielder Roc Carles had the most shot attempts for the Pride with three, two being on goal. The junior keeper denied him both times as the visitor’s rally fell just short.
Hofstra outranked the Blue Hens 12-10 in total shots while both sides had six shots on goal. There were six yellow cards handed out, three to each side. Defender Nico Oberrauch picked up his second caution of the season while defenders Shane Salmon and Infuso each picked up their first of the 2023 campaign.
With their first defeat in conference play this year, the Pride missed the opportunity to tie the Stony Brook University Seawolves atop the CAA standings at 14 accumulative points. With only about two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Pride’s final three matches prior to the CAA championship include two conference opponents. Homefield advantage throughout the playoffs is not out of their reach, but it’s also not in their control.
Their next conference game will also be their last home game of the regular season against the Drexel University Dragons on Saturday, Oct. 21. Before that, however, Hofstra will complete their three-game road trip and play the University of New Hampshire Wildcats on Tuesday, Oct. 17. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Matteo Bracco
