The Hofstra Pride lost to the Northeastern University Huskies 3-1 on Sunday, April 11 at Field Hockey Stadium. Sunday was also Senior Day for the Pride, and before the game, Meredith Pfennig, Jordan Thompson and Colette Euksuzian were recognized for their accomplishments.

“It was a special pregame and even a special moment on the turf,” said Pride head coach Courtney Veinotte.

After a defensive first quarter where the Pride took the only shot by either team with less than three minutes in the opening frame, the second quarter got off to a much faster start. Hofstra goalkeeper Merlijn van der Vegt recorded her first of three saves on a shot by Mak Graves. One minute and 11 seconds later, Cami Larsson scored her second goal of the year on the first of Hofstra’s four penalty corners to put the Pride up 1-0 2:17 in. It was Larsson’s second goal in the last three games and the third consecutive game she recorded a point.

Of the nine total penalty corners in the game, five came in the second quarter, the first two for Hofstra and the next three for Northeastern. The Pride did not capitalize on their second opportunity.

“Something we’re working on is making the most out of our circle entries and circle opportunities,” Veinotte said.

Northeastern did not score on their first penalty corner opportunity, but Caroline Sweeney scored her first goal of the year to tie the game on Northeastern’s second penalty corner. The Huskies took a 2-1 lead with 23 seconds left in the third quarter on a Lauren Rowe penalty stroke goal. It was her fifth goal of the year. 

After Cassie Brazinsky scored her second goal of the season with 6:56 left in the game to put Northeastern ahead 3-1, Hofstra made a late rally to try and come back, but a failed penalty corner opportunity, a block on a shot by Larsson and a wide shot by Gabriela Espinoza sealed the Pride’s fate.

“We had many options at net that unfortunately just didn’t find the backboard today,” Veinotte said. “It was a well-battled game, but at the end of the day, they capitalized on two more opportunities than we did.”

With the loss, Hofstra is the only team in the Colonial Athletic Association winless in conference play. They sit at last place at 0-2 and 3-7 overall. Northeastern is 3-6 overall and 1-2 in CAA play and currently sits in fifth place.

The Pride’s next game is on the road against Towson University on Friday, April 16 at 3 p.m.

Photo Courtesy of Evan Bernstein/The Hofstra Chronicle