Key saves, strong defense, and timely goals all contributed as the Hofstra Pride men’s lacrosse team defeated the Merrimack College Warriors 8-7 at James M. Shuart Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 6, after the game was postponed by a day.
After Brian Herber won the opening face-off for the Pride and Sterlyn Ardrey missed a shot on net, the Warriors came back downfield and Michael Ferrara found the back of the net to give Merrimack a one-goal lead.
The Warriors’ lead didn’t last long in the first quarter as Colton Rudd scored the Pride’s first goal of the season with an assist from Sam Lutfi. A little under a minute later, Lutfi chipped in a goal with an assist from Rudd, giving Hofstra a one-goal lead.
As both teams traded possessions throughout the waning minutes of the period, Rudd added his third point of the afternoon, finding Rory Jones for his first goal of the season and giving the Pride a two-goal lead.
Hofstra’s offense went stagnant throughout the second quarter and the Warriors were able to take the lead with two goals from Tommy Rooney and one from Trace Hogan.
At the half, Merrimack led Hofstra 4-3. The Pride led in the faceoff column 7-2 and in ground balls, scooping up 13 within the first 30 minutes.
As both teams were trading possessions, Ryan Sheridan brought the Pride back to even with an assist from Griffin Turner, but Christian Thomas gave Merrimack a temporary one-goal lead once again before the Pride went on a three-goal run.
Dylan McIntosh added his first goal of the season, tying the Pride evenly with the Warriors off a pass from Lutfi.
A little over two minutes later, transfer Gerard Kane, making his Hofstra debut, ripped a shot and gave the Pride the lead, igniting the bench. The momentum kept going as McIntosh added his second goal of the afternoon, giving Hofstra a two-goal lead heading into the final quarter.
Thomas brought Merrimack back within a goal with 10:01 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Justin Sykes answered shortly after, pushing Hofstra’s lead back to two.
The defensive battle was significant and key saves from Mac Gates held the lead for Hofstra throughout the final minutes.
The Pride thrived defensively until Jack Rooney added a goal for the Warriors with 33 seconds remaining.
Merrimack won the following face-off, and, with 13 seconds remaining, the Pride was called for an interference penalty, putting them in a man-down situation.
Rooney took the ball from behind the cage for the Warriors and was able to find Thomas in front of the doorstep but was hit by Hofstra’s Dalton Seesz. Thomas didn’t score as Gates notched his 16th save of the afternoon, helping the Pride run out the clock and thus bringing its first win of the season.
“I just tried to stay as calm as possible. Leading up this week, a big theme of our team was just an ‘I got your back, you got mine’ type of mentality,” Gates said.
“This guy next to me; he’s been patiently sitting, waiting his turn, and at times, certainly could’ve played prior to this,” said Hofstra Head Coach Seth Tierney. “My emotions are high for Mac Gates.”
McIntosh led the Pride in goals with two while Lutfi and Rudd tied in the assists column with two apiece.
“Winning is not easy in Division I, and it’s a gift when you win. I know you have to earn that gift,” Tierney said. “A lot of faces are changed, a lot of positions are changed, and you find yourself cheering for and rooting for the new faces.”
The Hofstra Pride will host the Sacred Heart University Pioneers at James M. Shuart Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 12. Face-off is at 1 p.m.
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
