The Hofstra men’s lacrosse team led 50-41 in shots, but couldn’t convert them into goals as they fell to Stony Brook University 14-11 on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium. The Seawolves won the Battle of Long Island for the second year in a row as they improved to 3-1 this season while the Pride fell to 2-2.
“[I’m] just disappointed,” said Hofstra head coach Seth Tierney. “Disappointed with a lot of things. We’ll have to watch the film. Energy level. Execution. I tip my hat off to Stony Brook; they did a great job tonight.”
Stony Brook struck first as senior attackman Chris Pickel found the back of the net three and a half minutes into the game.
Hofstra quickly answered with three goals of their own by senior attackman Ryan Tierney, sophomore attackman Whit Stopak and redshirt junior midfielder Riley Forte to lead 3-1 with 7:35 left in the first quarter.
Both teams went on to struggle with penalties as Hofstra claimed two more man-up goals and the Seawolves scored one man-up and one regular goal to close out the first 15 minutes with the Pride leading 5-4.
The Pride’s goals came courtesy of Forte and Tierney, while Cory VanGinhoven scored both of Stony Brook’s goals.
Action slowed down in the second quarter as the Seawolves added one to the board a minute and a half in and held the Pride scoreless for over five and a half minutes. Tierney then earned his third of the night and freshman midfielder Kyle Steinbach scored his first of the season to put the Pride up 7-5 with 7:07 left in the half.
“[We know Steinbach is] going to play for us,” coach Tierney said. “He’s a guy that plays with a large amount of energy. We’ve got to continue to develop him.”
Ryan Tierney’s hat trick also marks the 24th hat trick of his career.
Stony Brook dominated in the last seven minutes of the half, scoring three unanswered goals including one in the final 22 seconds to lead the Pride by one, 8-7, at the end of the second quarter.
It then took Hofstra over 5 minutes to tie the game at 8-8 as junior midfielder James Philbin scored off an assist by freshman Sam Lufti at the 9:49 mark of the third period.
Less than a minute later, the Pride trailed once more as Stonybrook scored twice, leading 10-8 with 8:55 left.
Stopak then scored again off an assist by Forte to close the gap 10-9 at the 4:22 mark – but as the third quarter ended, the Hofstra defense struggled as the Seawolves struck twice and extended their lead to 12-9.
In the fourth, both teams found the back of the net twice. This was initiated by Stony Brook, who opened the period with a goal by Renz Conlon just 10 seconds into play.
One final push for Hofstra saw two goals by freshman midfielder Sterlyn Ardrey and another by Steinbach at 3:37, but it wasn’t enough as Patrick Kaschalk called game for the Seawolves, scoring with 2:11 left to extend their lead to 14-11 as the clock ran out.
The Seawolves have now claimed three of the last five games in the Long Island rivalry and their first at home since 2016.
In net, Pride goalkeeper Bobby Casey had 15 saves while Stony Brook recorded 16.
Stony Brook also controlled face-offs, recording 16 to the Pride’s 12.
The Pride will take the field next when they host Long Island University on Saturday, Feb. 29, at James M. Shuart Stadium. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
