The Hofstra Pride field hockey team hosted the Monmouth Hawks at Hofstra Field Hockey Stadium on Feb. 28, losing 2-1. The game was Monmouth’s first game and the Pride’s home opener. With the loss, the Pride extends their losing skid to three and has yet to earn a win this season.

Jasmijn Verdoes scored the first goal, zooming into the Hawks’ circle and deking defenders. Her initial attempt was secured by Monmouth goalie Ally Tarantino. However, it was not for long and the Netherlands native did no wrong, scoring at the 8:16 mark of the second quarter when the ball connected with her stick for the second time. The play of the forward did not go unnoticed by Hofstra head coach Courtney Veinotte.

“Jasmijn is going to be very, very dangerous; it’s going to be fun to watch her kind of grow into her role here as a first-year,” Veinotte said. “She’s got great speed. She gets herself into dangerous positions in the circle.”

After the Pride slid one past Tarantino, that would be the end of the offense. “They took away one of our options in the outlet, and we were kind of struggling to adjust to that ultimately,” Veinotte said.

No one would light the lamp until the third quarter when Hawks senior Ireen Frenken, not even 60 seconds into the period, shot a fastball by sophomore Merlijn van der Vegt, squaring the game at one. The shot was taken straight on from the attacking circle.

From there, the momentum was Monmouth’s, as the Hawks untied the score when Annick van Lange charged down the left boundary of Hofstra and crossed to Aylin Aufenacker, who hit the back of the net.

Although Hofstra lost, Veinotte is taking the positives out of the game, and the Pride will try to get their first “W” on March 5 at Wagner at 3 p.m.

 Photo courtesy of Evan Bernstein/The Hofstra Chronicle