The Hofstra men’s lacrosse team lost 10-9 to Providence College in overtime on Saturday, March 26, at Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium in what was the Pride’s final non-conference game of the season.
After the matchup, Hofstra’s record fell to 4-6 this season, while its all-time record against the Friars is now 7-3.
Freshman Rory Jones put the first point on the board for the Pride merely 30 seconds into the first quarter, but Providence tied it shortly after. After that, neither team hit the back of the net for the remainder of the quarter.
The Friars broke the stalemate when Chris Cusolito and Quinn McConnaughey scored back-to-back goals in the opening minute of the second quarter to establish a 3-1 lead for Providence. Hofstra then bounced back as Gerard Kane scored his 14th goal of the season with a turn-around finish. Dylan McIntosh and James Philbin followed by scoring two goals each. With five uninterrupted goals, the Pride held a 6-3 lead. Providence added another goal to the board to end the half, but the score still favored the Pride, 6-4.
With a defender in his face and while shooting from a tough angle, Philbin scored another goal, with Jones’ assistance, at the 4:19 mark of the third quarter to complete the hat-trick and put the Pride back in the lead by two goals. However, Providence slowly but surely fought for another comeback, scoring another goal with 39 seconds left in the third quarter.
In what was thought to be the game’s final quarter, Justin Sykes scored at the 12:34 mark, restoring Hofstra’s two-goal advantage. It was short-lived, though, as Providence charged back. Cusolito added two more goals to his total for the day, and Michael Chabra scored three times, each earning hat-tricks of their own. Down by only one, Jack Horrigan tied the game for Providence in the waning seconds of the contest to send the Friars and Pride into overtime, knotted at nine.
After winning the opening face-off in the extra quarter, Kane had a chance to win the game for Hofstra, but his shot was blocked by Providence goalie Michael Harris. The Pride was then given a penalty for a push, and Chabra scored on the man-up advantage to seal the overtime victory for the Friars.
Redshirt sophomore Mac Gates had six saves in goal for the Pride. With six points on a career-high five assists and one goal, Kane concluded the day as Hofstra’s highest scorer in what was his second game with multiple assists in his Hofstra career.
Philbin achieved a hat-trick and an assist, while Jones had two goals and two assists. Jones had a team-high 11 shots and Corey Kale led the Pride with five ground balls. Tom Ford set a new career-high for Hofstra with five forced turnovers, and freshman Benjamin Niesman was six for nine in the face-off circle.
To kickstart the first game of the Colonial Athletic Association competition, Hofstra will hit the road again to take on the Stags of Fairfield University on Saturday, April 2. Face-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
